Jammu, Aug 29: Amid protests and demands from different quarters to fix accountability, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday, constituted a 3-member panel to enquire into the land-slide incident on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi track on August 26, which claimed the lives of 34 yatris and injured around 20 others.
LG Sinha is also the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB).
The panel has been asked to give its report within two weeks to the chairman, SMVDSB.
Meanwhile, amid a fresh spell of rains and inclement weather conditions, the pilgrimage to the holy Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, nested in Trikuta Hills, continued to remain suspended for the fourth day.
In a related development, the Shrine Board late Thursday evening officially responded to charges and media reports that it allowed the Yatra to proceed in complete disregard of weather advisories and at the expense of pilgrim safety.
The board asserted that an unprecedented cloudburst-triggered landslide on the yatra track.
Interestingly, the Board’s official response too has been contested on social media, particularly with regard to its explanation vis-à-vis the sudden severe cloudburst in this stretch of around 50 meters only, which triggered the massive landslide.
Katra witnessed protest by local Sangharsh Samiti members seeking the fixing of accountability in the incident.
Besides the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, J&K Congress leaders, and others had raised questions over allowing continuation of Yatra despite adverse weather advisories and had demanded that the accountability should be fixed for the fatal lapse.
In Jammu, J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu, in a press conference, also demanded a magisterial enquiry into the tragic incident.
Regarding the updated status, the Board authorities, however, stated that restoration of the track damaged by the landslide was going on and Yatra would be resumed in a couple of days after the completion of restoration work and improvement in weather conditions.
ARTI Reasi said that 200 buses were mobilised to clear the rush of stranded pilgrims.
At Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, on the third day of the tragedy, Deputy Medical Superintendent in charge of emergency services, Bharat Bhushan, said that the identity of all 34 bodies was ascertained.
“Out of the deceased, nine were children and 17 were women. All the deceased were pilgrims, hailing from Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. By this evening, after conducting a postmortem, all the bodies were handed over to the families,” Bharat Bhushan said.
The shrine board, in collaboration with the administration, has made arrangements to send bodies to their native places along with the attendants.
Meanwhile, relief and restoration works were going on in full swing across floods-ravaged Jammu division as many areas still remained unconnected and people suffering in the absence of restoration of water and power supplies even on the third day.
PANEL TO PROBE VAISHNO DEVI LANDSLIDE INCIDENT
LG Sinha ordered the constitution of a high-level three-member Committee, headed by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Department of Jal Shakti, J&K, to enquire into the reasons behind the tragic land-slide incident near Adhkwari on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi track in district Reasi on August 26, 2025.
As per the order, the Committee will comprise the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Department of Jal Shakti, J&K; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and Inspector General of Police, Jammu.
“The Committee shall examine in detail the causes and reasons behind the incident and point out any lapses; assess responses in the form of rescue and relief measures undertaken, and suggest appropriate SOPs and measures for preventing recurrence of such incidents in the future,” the order specified the mandate of the panel.
SHRINE BOARD DENIES CALLOUSNESS
Earlier, the shrine board denied any callousness behind the tragedy in its official response and described the allegations as baseless.
“A few media reports have been circulating since yesterday alleging that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra was allowed to proceed in complete disregard to weather advisories and at the expense of pilgrim safety. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) expresses deep sorrow and pain at the unfortunate loss of lives of pilgrims in the natural disaster on 26th August, and places on record the correct factual position to dispel the impression being created by the insinuating media reports. The Board categorically denies the allegations as false and baseless,” it said.
According to the Board, the weather conditions had remained clear and conducive for pilgrimage on August 26 morning until around 10 am, during which time the yatra proceeded normally, so much so that even the helicopter services were operating seamlessly during that time.
“In fact, the Board had made elaborate arrangements of positioning its enforcement staff and Disaster Management Task Force along the entire track as per its established standard operating procedure. The Board monitored weather updates closely and as soon as the forecast for moderate rains was received, registrations were immediately suspended,” the board said in its official response.
The majority of the yatris, according to the Board, were moving down the track after completing darshan at the holy cave shrine. Thousands of yatris en-route had smoothly completed their pilgrimage back to Katra by then.
However, many pilgrims stayed on in the shelter sheds en-route at designated halt points on the old track.
“These are those points or stretches that have never been susceptible to landslides in the past. These halt points have been specifically created in the safest zones of the track for pilgrim safety. The new track between Katra and Adhkwari (through Tarakote), which is susceptible to landslides and weather-related disruptions, had already been closed since August 24 in the interest of pilgrim safety,” the board said.
It said that the old track, which is generally secure and not prone to slides or shooting stones (having stabilized over the last many decades), was kept open for pilgrim movement with a close watch on weather conditions. Even the yatra on this track was suspended by 12 noon on August 26 upon issuance of the specific weather advisory.
SMVSB pointed out that the location where this unfortunate disaster happened was near Inderprastha Bhojanalaya on the old track.
“This is one of the safest locations on the track. However, nature’s fury struck in the form of a sudden, severe cloudburst in this stretch of around 50 meters only, which triggered the massive landslide at 2.40 pm. It was unpredictable and unforeseen from any count. No such event of a landslide has ever been recorded in this area in the past. The event was a force majeure,” the board said, in its response.
The shrine board’s Disaster Management Task Force, which was spread along the track, immediately responded in close coordination with district administration, Reasi, J&K Police, CRPF, Army, NDRF, SDRF, and volunteers, launching swift evacuation and relief operations.
“Eighteen pilgrims who had sustained injuries were safely evacuated and shifted for superspecialty care in the shrine board’s hospital at Kakryal after giving them first aid along the track. Stranded pilgrims were safely evacuated to Katra through the Tarakot Marg by the evening of August 26. Simultaneously, debris clearance, slope inspection, and stabilization were undertaken on a war footing,” it said.
The board stated that it had, over the years, taken concerted steps to undertake slope stabilization and mountain binding activities.
“Robust shelter sheds to guard against stray shooting stones have been laid along almost the entire track. The board reiterates that every reasonable precaution was taken, keeping in view the weather forecasts. The unfortunate cloudburst resulting in loss of precious lives was not humanly foreseeable and was thus beyond anyone’s anticipation or control. The board has at all times acted strictly in line with official weather forecasts and advisories, with pilgrim safety and well-being as its foremost priority,” it reiterated and added that the shrine board was standing firmly with the bereaved families in this hour of grief and every possible assistance would be provided to the NoKs of the deceased devotees.
“Injured are being provided with the best possible medical treatment and the Shrine Board prays to Mata Vaishno Devi for their quick recovery,” it said.
RELIEF, RESTORATION WORKS ACROSS FLOOD-RAVAGED JAMMU DIVISION
In Jammu, Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Mandeep Kaur Friday assessed the large-scale damage caused by the recent spell of torrential rains in Jammu city. The heavy downpour has severely impacted normal life, damaged vital infrastructure, and caused considerable hardship to residents.
Mandeep stated that several residential areas had been flooded, leaving houses filled with water and debris.
Notably, key drains, bridges, and road links at critical locations were damaged, while in some stretches, roads were completely washed away, making vehicular movement impossible. The city’s drinking water supply network was also badly affected, further compounding public inconvenience.
She visited flood-affected localities, including Greater Kailash, Sainik Colony, Sunjwan, Bathindi, Boria Basti, Bahu Fort, Vikram Chowk, Tawi Bridge, Talab Tillo, Roopnagar, Rajinder Nagar, and Bantalab, to take first-hand appraisal of damages and ongoing response measures.
Following her visit, she asked officials to immediately initiate restoration works with a clear focus on permanent and sustainable solutions.
“Temporary patchwork would not be tolerated. Wherever roads, bridges, drains, or lanes have been damaged, only durable and long-lasting methods should be adopted. No new lane construction be undertaken without drain and proper technical planning and approval, and only concrete creeks be built to ensure stability and long-term resilience,” she gave clear-cut instructions.
Concerned authorities were directed that road restoration should be taken up only after complete removal of encroachments, to ensure free flow of storm-water and to prevent recurring damage.
As part of slope protection measures, hydro-seeding plantations should be carried out along creeks to stabilise soil and reduce erosion risk, it was instructed.
Separately, the Director of Health Services, Jammu, Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar, also reviewed the health services scenario post torrential rains.
State Surveillance Officer Jammu, Harjeet Rai, instructed for restoration of damaged health facilities, deployment of mobile medical teams, ensuring availability of essential medicines and vaccines, coordination with Jal Shakti Department for safe drinking water, intensification of vector control measures, and provision of sanitation and medical care in relief camps.
In Kathua district, as per officials, around 70 percent connectivity was restored; however Bani area still remained badly impacted.
“Almost 70 percent of roads were restored across the district. In the Billawar area too, major roads would be restored by this evening; however, Bani roads are likely to be through for traffic movement by Sunday. Traffic on the National Highway was restored through alternate routes. Two bridges in the hinterland were damaged, and their repair work would take time. In the case of the Madhopur bridge, at present, one tube is working, thus allowing one-way traffic. Damage assessment work is still one,” Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma told Greater Kashmir.
