At least 31 lives were tragically lost and 23 others injured on Wednesday after a massive landslide struck the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities fear the death toll could rise further, as several individuals remain trapped under the debris.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, saying, “The loss of lives due to a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is saddening. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The administration is assisting all those affected. My prayers for everyone’s safety and well-being.”
The loss of lives due to a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is saddening. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The administration is assisting all those affected. My prayers for everyone’s safety and…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 27, 2025
The disaster struck amid days of relentless rainfall that have battered the region, triggering flash floods, mudslides, and widespread destruction. Critical infrastructure has taken a severe hit—bridges have collapsed, power lines snapped, and mobile towers damaged—leaving many areas isolated and communication lines disrupted.
Jammu experienced its heaviest rainfall in recent memory on Tuesday, with a staggering 22 cm of rain falling within just six hours between 11:30 am and 5:30 pm. Though the downpour subsided after midnight, the destruction had already been unleashed.
Severe Weather Continues to Wreck Havoc in Jammu and Surrounding Regions
Severe weather continues to batter Jammu and Kashmir, with thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and hail reported across multiple districts, including Jammu city, RS Pura, Samba, Akhnoor, Nagrota, Kot Bhalwal, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Purmandal, and parts of Kathua and Udhampur. Lighter but persistent rain is affecting areas such as Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Katra, Ramnagar, Hiranagar, Gool, Banihal, and neighboring regions. Meteorologists have warned that cloud tops have soared up to 12 km, signaling extremely active storm systems moving east-northeast, with more rainfall expected in the hills and foothills.
The relentless downpours have also disrupted travel across the region. Northern Railways canceled 22 trains and partially terminated 27 others on Wednesday, impacting services from Katra, Jammu, and Udhampur. Additionally, nine trains from the Vaishno Devi base camp have been halted. Rail traffic between Pathankot and Kandrori in Himachal Pradesh remains suspended after flash floods swept the Chakki River. However, the Katra–Srinagar route continues to operate.
In a dramatic rescue operation, Indian Army Aviation evacuated 22 CRPF personnel and three civilians stranded near Madhopur Headworks in Punjab since Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Rising water levels in the Ravi, Ujh, and Jalalian rivers—exacerbated by the release of water from the Ranjit Sagar dam—had flooded the barrage, leaving those trapped at risk.
“All stranded individuals were safely evacuated and brought to safety,” the Army confirmed. Remarkably, the building where the personnel and civilians were sheltered collapsed shortly after the evacuation, underscoring the urgency and life-saving impact of the operation.
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