Srinagar: Heavy rains unleashed chaos across Jammu and Kashmir, triggering landslides on the Vaishno Devi temple route and flash floods in Doda district, leaving at least 31 dead. The calamity struck yesterday, with nine devotees losing their lives in Katra and four more in Doda, while 22 others were injured along the temple path. Rescue operations continue as authorities report that more people may still be trapped in the affected areas.
Multiple homes were submerged in Doda, Jammu, and Udhampur, while roads and bridges vanished beneath floodwaters, crippling local transport. Twenty-two trains have been cancelled, leaving passengers stranded at railway stations. Rivers across the region continue to swell amid incessant rainfall, worsening the situation.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the crisis as “serious” and urged residents to remain alert. He convened an emergency meeting to assess the disaster response, while authorities advised people to stay away from rivers, flood-prone zones, and landslide-susceptible areas. Rescue teams and relief workers have been deployed on high alert across risk zones.
Earlier, a devastating cloudburst and flash flood in Kishtwar claimed 61 lives and injured over 100 people. The disaster struck near the Machhail Mata pilgrimage center, primarily affecting pilgrims on the route. About 40 bodies have been identified and returned to families following legal procedures, while a travel ban remains in place for the temple.
Authorities continue search and rescue operations across the affected districts, as the state braces for further rainfall and potential secondary hazards.