Vaishno Devi landslide: Families of deceased to receive Rs 9 lakh compensation, confirms LG Sinha

Large swathes of land in the northern Indian plains, especially in Punjab, were inundated by snow-fed rivers from the Himalayas and rivulets flowing in spate following incessant showers in their upstream, forcing train cancellations and school closures. The death toll in the rain-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir rose to 41 on Wednesday, with the Vaishno Devi landslide accounting for 34 of the lives lost, as some let-up in the showers allowed relief efforts to pick up pace. Normal life was thrown out of gear in the coastal state of Odisha by seemingly unending downpours brought in by a low-pressure pressure over the Bay of Bengal. Down south, the southwest monsoon dumped copious amounts of rain in several parts of Karnataka and inundated low-lying areas of Telangana.

Death count mounts to 41 after record rains in Jammu; Jhelum floods Srinagar, Anantnag after record rains wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir over the past two days, the death toll in related incidents rose to 41, most of them victims of the landslide on a Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route, while there was some let-up in the showers on Wednesday, allowing relief efforts to pick up pace.

Traffic movement was brought to a halt after a heavy landslide occurred near the Balni check post on the Katra-Reasi road on Wednesday. The debris has completely blocked the route, disrupting connectivity to the region. Authorities have been deployed to clear the road and restore traffic at the earliest.

(With inputs from Rahi Kapoor)

The Haryana Assembly on Wednesday paid homage to the victims of the Vaishno Devi landslide and other recent natural calamities in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. Energy and Transport Minister Anil Vij moved a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha, expressing grief over the loss of lives and property in the incidents in Vaishno Devi, Doda, and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as other affected places in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The death count in the Vaishno Devi landslide has gone up to 34, officials said on Wednesday, a day after disaster struck the route on the hilltop shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. At least 20 people were injured in the landslide triggered by heavy, relentless rain, the officials said. 

Police on Wednesday launched a comprehensive response mechanism to ensure the safety and mobility of residents by providing frontline assistance amid inclement weather conditions in the city. A police spokesperson said teams have been deployed across Srinagar to address rain-related challenges, particularly in low-lying and waterlogged areas where civilians may require evacuation. "In view of the continuous adverse weather conditions across J-K, Srinagar Police, in close coordination with the District Administration, has launched a comprehensive response mechanism to ensure the safety, mobility, and well-being of residents," he said.

After record rains over the past two days, the death toll in related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 36, most of them victims of the landslide on a Vaishno Devi route, while there was some let-up in the showers on Wednesday, allowing relief efforts to pick up pace. The water level in the swollen rivers across Jammu showed signs of receding, but the flood alert mark was breached by the Jhelum in Anantnag and Srinagar, and water entered several residential areas, prompting authorities to assure residents that they are monitoring the situation and people should not panic.

Rail traffic in the Jammu Division has been temporarily suspended following heavy soil erosion and flash floods in the Chakki River, railway officials said on Wednesday. Several trains have been impacted, with cancellations, diversions, and short-terminations announced.

Impact on train operations

• Cancelled Trains: 58
• Partially Cancelled: 3
• Partially Restored: 1
• Fully Restored: 5
• Diverted: 3
• Short-Originated: 18
• Short-Terminated: 46

(With inputs from Anamika Gaur) 

The phone and network services were restored across all networks in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, 24 hours after the damage to optical fibres caused outages in the Union territory, officials said. "The phone and internet services, including mobile internet, fibre and landline internet, have been restored,” the officials said. The users can access 5G network speeds across the networks, they added. The restoration came after optical fibre was re-connected in Jammu region.

He says, "Spoke to Hon PM @narendramodi Sb a short while ago. I briefed him about the situation in J&K from the worst hit areas as I toured the parts of Jammu, along the banks of the Tawi, that saw a lot of damage yesterday. I’m grateful for his assurance of continued assistance to the people of J&K."

J&K CM Omar Abdullah took stock of the situation near the fourth Tawi bridge, which was heavily damaged in the floods following incessant heavy rainfall.

Srinagar Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg says, "Adverse weather conditions are prevailing... The situation is being closely monitored. Irrigation and flood control teams are continuously monitoring from South Kashmir to North Kashmir. Our water gauge levels are being monitored closely at Sangam, Anantnag, and Ram Munshi Bagh. All our DCs of South Kashmir and Central Kashmir are on spot... We had closed schools, colleges and universities last night as a precautionary measure..."

On the landslide in Katra, J&K CM Omar Abdullah says, "If we already knew about the weather, couldn't we do something to ensure that those innocent lives were saved. Why were they on the track? Why weren't they taken to a safe place? We are sad that around 29-30 people have lost their lives in Katra. There has been major damage in the low-lying areas like Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur, Doda... We will have to take measures for the people residing near the rivers illegally. They will have to be moved to a new place..."

On the flood and cloudburst situation in J&K, CM Omar Abdullah says, "... I spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi right now and provided him the details about the situation. He ensured that all possible help would be provided by the Central government... There is some relief today as the rain has almost stopped. Water has started receding from the low-lying areas. The loss due to the disaster is before you. In 2014, the same section of this bridge was damaged. This means that there is some risk associated with this section of the bridge. We will have to ensure that such an incident does not take place again. We will also need to take action for the houses near the river. Relief and rescue work has started..."

Help desk started at Sri Mata Vaishno devi Katra, Jammu Tawi, and Pathankot stations.

• Jammu: 296.0 mm (previous record of highest rainfall in 24 Hr of 272.6 mm on 09 Aug 1973 broken)
• Udhampur: 629.4 mm (previous record of highest rainfall in 24 Hr of 342.0 mm on 31 Jul 2019 broken)

 Train services were restored from Jammu on Wednesday after a day-long suspension, with six trains scheduled to leave for their destinations, officials said.

Northern Railway on Tuesday night announced the cancellation of 22 incoming and outgoing trains from Jammu and Katra railway stations, while 27 trains were short-terminated at various stations in the division due to heavy rain that lashed the region.

"Train services have been restored from Jammu. Six trains, which were either cancelled or short-terminated, will leave for their destinations today,” a railway official said.

According to the PRO of Jammu Division, the six restored trains include three that were earlier cancelled and three that were short-terminated at different stations.

Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh said, "Rainfall is expected to end today, and the weather is beginning to clear. Highway clearance and relief operations have started, with teams deployed in Thathri and other areas. The highway is likely to be restored by evening. Landslides have occurred at 4–5 points along the highway, and restoration work is underway. The death toll stands at four so far. No further structural damage to residential or commercial buildings is expected. Internet and mobile connectivity will be restored soon. 

SSP Traffic NHW Raja Adil Hamid said that heavy rainfall over the past two days has triggered multiple landslides along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway and in several other areas. Numerous locations on the route from Jammu to Chenani have been affected, leading to road closures.

"A major landslide has also occurred near Dewal in Udhampur. We have not yet received complete updates due to the lack of mobile connectivity. I urge all travellers to avoid planning any journeys on NH-44 until the highway is fully cleared," he added.

A passenger train has been stranded on the track between Jammu and Katra for the past 24 hours after boulders fell onto the railway line ahead, forcing it to stop. The train came to a halt yesterday at around 12 noon.

Rescue operations have been delayed as the road near the track is also damaged, making it difficult for teams to access the site. Authorities are working to clear the debris and restore connectivity.

Rail connectivity to Jammu has been completely suspended as heavy rains and landslides continue to disrupt the region. Since this morning, no trains have been able to reach Jammu, with services currently operating only up to Pathankot.

Officials from Northern Railways have confirmed that multiple sections of the track are blocked due to debris and waterlogging. Restoration work is underway, but authorities have not provided a timeline for resumption of full services. Passengers are advised to check updated train schedules before travel, as several trains have been cancelled or diverted.

Heavy rainfall has triggered landslides, blocking the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway with stone and debris. Traffic movement on the route remains disrupted as authorities work to clear the obstruction.

Doda Additional Deputy Commissioner Anil Kumar Thakur said the administration received updates until 3 am, after which network issues disrupted communication. He stated that the police are currently managing the control room, and monitoring will continue throughout the night.

Thakur urged residents to stay indoors and assured that efforts are underway to restore power supply by tomorrow morning. He added that many roads have been damaged, several distress calls were received during the day, and numerous homes have been lost. “We are trying to reach every house and provide assistance to those affected,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday offered condolences over the loss of lives in the Vaishno Devi landslide, calling the incident "saddening".

Union Minister Jitendra Singh reported that the historic Madhopur bridge has been damaged due to heavy rains in Jammu. The bridge holds historical significance as it was the site where Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was arrested on May 11, 1953.

Traffic movement on the bridge has been suspended since 3 am today, the minister added.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh shared an update on the situation in Jammu Division, citing information from Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, who is in constant contact and currently chairing a meeting with officials from various departments:

1. Rain continues across the Jammu division, except in Poonch and Rajouri districts, though the intensity has reduced.

2. The water level in the Tawi river has receded, but the Chenab river remains close to the danger mark.

3. The immediate priority is restoring electricity, water supply, and mobile connectivity, with authorities working through the night to achieve this.

4. SDRF, NDRF, paramilitary forces, the Army, and the Air Force are closely coordinating with the civil administration for relief and response efforts.

The death toll in the Vaishno Devi landslide has gone up to 32, officials said on Wednesday, a day after the disaster struck the route on the hilltop shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. At least 20 people were injured in the landslide triggered by heavy, relentless rain, the officials said.

The pilgrimage to the shrine was suspended when the mountainside literally gave way and stones, boulders and rocks came hurtling down around 3 pm on Tuesday, catching people unawares.