A devastating landslide has struck the Vaishno Devi shrine in Indian-administered Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people and injuring many more.
The disaster occurred on Tuesday afternoon near the popular Hindu pilgrimage site in the Katra area, prompting an immediate response from security forces, disaster relief teams, and local volunteers.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Paramvir Singh, the death toll stands at 30, with many more feared trapped under the debris.
“Security forces, disaster relief teams, and local volunteers have been pressed into service to clear debris and search for survivors,” Singh said. The pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi Temple has been halted in the wake of the disaster.
The landslide is the latest disaster caused by heavy monsoon rains in the Himalayan region, which have left hundreds dead and missing in India and Pakistan.
Heavy rainfall has also caused severe damage to infrastructure in the region, sweeping away bridges and roads and flooding homes. India has opened the gates of large dams on the swollen rivers in its territory, warning Pakistan of potential downstream flooding.
Pakistan has begun evacuating tens of thousands of people after New Delhi alerted Islamabad about possible cross-border flooding.
“The immediate priority is restoration of electricity, water supply, and mobile services, for which the authorities have been working continuously overnight,” India’s Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in Jammu, with severe convection and possible hail reported in several areas.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that telecommunications services in the region are “almost nonexistent” amid the deluge, according to Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Indian-administered Kashmir.
Floods and landslides are a regular occurrence during the June-September monsoon season, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.
According to officials, more than 1,200 people have been killed in monsoon-related incidents in India since June, while at least 800 have died in Pakistan since late June.
In neighboring Pakistan, torrential monsoon rains have killed over 300 people, with thousands more evacuated due to severe flooding.
The country’s military has launched rescue operations, with doctors treating survivors and engineers repairing damaged infrastructure.
The international community has been alerted to the growing humanitarian crisis in the region, with concerns about the potential for further flooding and landslides.
As the situation continues to unfold, rescue teams are working tirelessly to locate survivors and provide aid to those affected.