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6h ago

Vaishno Devi Landslide Toll at 34, Yatra Halted as Protests and Probe Demands Grow

Local anger over safety decisions has triggered calls for a high-level probe.

As per the statement given by the deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri in the assembly on Thursday, the state so far has suffered a loss of ₹2,623 crore. (Aqil Khan /HT)
A bridge damaged due to heavy rainfall, in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
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Health workers carry the body of a pilgrim who died in a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, being shifted to the Government Medical Hospital, in Jammu on Thursday. (ANI)

Overview

  • Rescue and clearance continue on the Ardhkuwari stretch with the Army, NDRF, SDRF and police deployed, and the pilgrimage remains suspended while debris removal and safety checks proceed.
  • Jammu & Kashmir announced ₹6 lakh for next of kin, ₹1 lakh for the severely injured and ₹50,000 for minor injuries with ₹10 crore advanced to each district, while Uttar Pradesh offered ₹4 lakh to families of state residents and directed swift repatriation of bodies.
  • Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced ₹9 lakh compensation, as the Shrine Board rejected negligence claims and termed the event an unprecedented cloudburst-triggered landslide after earlier curbs on the Tarakote track.
  • Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Omar Abdullah questioned why the yatra continued despite weather alerts and pressed for a high-level inquiry, as Katra observed a shutdown and protesters blamed the Shrine Board.
  • Wider monsoon disruption persisted with highways blocked in J&K, special trains running for stranded travelers, and officials signaling a reduction in rainfall even as isolated heavy spells remain possible.