Key points Incident: Landslide on Vaishno Devi Yatra route in Katra, 33 dead. Cause: Heavy rain and cloudburst, destruction due to falling debris. Relief work: Army, NDRF, SDRF and local administration active. Damage: Highways closed, 22 trains cancelled, communication system affected. Criticism of administration: Questions on not stopping the yatra despite alert. Heavy rains that have been continuing for three consecutive days have wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir, where 33 people have died in a landslide near the Vaishno Devi temple in Katra. The heavy rains have caused rivers to overflow and debris to accumulate on the roads, due to which several important highways including the Jammu-Srinagar highway have been closed and 22 trains have been cancelled. Details of the incident On August 26, 2025, at around 3 pm, a massive landslide occurred near Indraprastha Bhojanala near Adh Kuwari on the 12-km long pilgrimage route of the Vaishno Devi temple in Katra, Reasi district. The tragedy left 33 pilgrims dead and 23 injured, while many more are feared buried under the debris. The enraged stones, rocks and debris destroyed the pilgrimage route, causing the Vaishno Devi The yatra was immediately suspended. The Meteorological Department had already issued a warning of heavy rains, cloudbursts and landslides in Kathua, Reasi, Doda and other districts. Kathua recorded 155.6 mm of rain while Jammu recorded 296 mm, the highest since 1973. Rivers Chenab, Tawi, Ajj, Ravi and other rivers crossed the danger mark, causing flood situation in low-lying areas. Rescue and rescue operations NDRF, SDRF, Army, police and local volunteers launched immediate rescue operations. Three relief columns of the Army provided assistance in Katra and surrounding areas. The injured were shifted to Narayan Hospital in Katra and other facilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the tragedy. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called an emergency meeting and put the district administration on high alert. The extent of the devastation: Traffic is suspended on the Jammu-Srinagar and Kishtwar-Doda highways due to landslides and rockfalls. In Kathua, one lakh cusecs of water was released from the Madhupur Barrage, further worsening the flood situation. More than 3,500 people have been shifted to safer places. All government and private schools have been closed till August 27, and exams for classes 10 and 11 have been postponed. Telecom services have also been affected due to damage to optical fibre cables. "The scene was heartbreaking. Stones and debris suddenly started falling, people were screaming." — Karen, a visitor References India Today, Times of India, The Hindu, News18, Business Today, Ex-post by
