Jammu And Kashmir Flash Floods Live Updates: CM Omar Abdullah briefs PM Modi on worst-hit areas; thanks him for 'assurance of assistance'

The death toll 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.

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.

The landslide struck at a point about halfway along the winding 12-km trek from Katra to the shrine.

There are two routes up to the shrine. While the yatra had been suspended on the Himkoti trek route since morning, it was going on on the old route till 1.30 pm when authorities decided to suspend it till further orders in view of the torrential rain.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed condolences to the bereaved families of those who died in the natural calamity during the Vaishno Devi Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister directed financial assistance of Rs 4 lakhs to all the families of the deceased who were residents of Uttar Pradesh. The Chief Minister also directed the officials to make arrangements for sending the bodies of the deceased to their homes: CMO

Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha visited SMVD Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Katra, and met devotees injured in a landslide & enquired about their health.

Urged Doctors to ensure the best possible treatment. My gratitude to emergency responders, SMVDSB employees & citizens whose exemplary interventions saved many lives: Office of LG

India has issued fresh flood risk alerts to Pakistan, warning of a "high probability" of flooding in the Tawi river after heavy and continuous rainfall in the north forced the release of excess water from major dams, sources told PTI on Wednesday.

Officials said the alerts, sent through the ministry of external affairs, were shared on "humanitarian grounds". This comes at a time when ties between the two countries have remained tense since the Pahalgam terror attack four months ago.

The first alert was sent on Monday, followed by two more on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"We issued another alert yesterday (Tuesday) and one today (Wednesday) of high probability of flooding in the Tawi river. The gates of some dams had to be opened due to excessive rains being witnessed in Indian regions," a source said.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday about the ongoing flood and cloudburst situation in the region.
The Jammu and Kashmir CM said that the PM has assured that the Centre will provide all possible help.

Speaking to reporters in Jammu, CM Abdullah said, "I spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi right now and provided him with the details about the situation. He ensured that all possible help would be provided by the Central government."

The J-K CM noted some relief as the rain had almost stopped and water levels had started receding in low-lying areas.

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..."

Srinagar 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..."

Operations to clear highways and provide relief to people have begun in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, which has seen widespread destruction due to heavy rain, said Harvinder Singh, Deputy Commissioner of the district.

"The rain is expected to end today, and the weather has started to clear. Operations to clear highways and provide relief to people have begun, with teams deployed in Thathri and other locations. The highway is expected to be restored by evening," said Singh.

He said that four people have died in rain-related incidents in the district. "Landslides have also occurred on the highway at 4-5 locations; restoration work is ongoing. The death toll is four so far. No further damage is expected to be incurred to residential and commercial structures... Internet and mobile connectivity will also be restored soon... People are advised to stay away from water bodies...," he said. "There was heavy rainfall; it has not been officially declared a cloud burst by the IMD... Schools and colleges are expected to remain closed tomorrow, with senior officers making the final decision," he added.

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..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed sadness over the loss of lives due to the landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)'s Reasi district.

At least 30 people were killed and 14 others were injured after a landslide hit the shrine route.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, "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."

Following the landslide along the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)'s Reasi district, the Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed 17 teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) for a large-scale rescue and relief operation.

A major tragedy struck on the pilgrimage route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district on Tuesday when a landslide killed 31 pilgrims and injured 14 others, officials said.

The National Disaster Response Force, along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and other central agencies, is actively engaged in relief efforts.

A total of 32 special boats have been sent by air, along with the teams, to the disaster-hit region.

The Home Ministry control room is monitoring the situation 24/7.

"It has rained heavily in the last two days. There have been landslides at many locations on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, as well as in other areas. There are landslides at many places, and the roads are blocked because of stones. On the route from Jammu to Chenani, there were landslides at many places, and the road was closed. A landslide has occurred in Udhampur near Dewal. So far, we have not received complete information, as there is no mobile connectivity... I appeal to all the people who travel on this highway that till the road clearance is not available on NH 44, you should not plan your journey," says SSP Traffic NHW Raja Adil Hamid.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses condolences to the people who lost their lives in the landslide near Ardhkuwari at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi landslide yesterday

PM tweets, "The loss of lives due to a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is saddening.

Uttar Pradesh deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya says, "Continuous cloudbursts and devastating flood tragedies are occurring in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir... At the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, where devotees from Uttar Pradesh also go in large numbers, a cloudburst incident has occurred, and information has also been received that several people have died in it. I pray to God that those who have lost their loved ones be given the strength to endure the suffering... This natural disaster is a very big challenge, and we are fully confident that in the coming times, some way or the other will definitely be found to address this challenge..."

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi yatra has been suspended after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district killed 30 people near the shrine at Ardhkuwari on Tuesday, with devotees describing chaotic scenes; “I am from Banaras. The landslides started happening at the Garbh Joon Gufa temple (Ardhkuwari)... The situation was chaotic... People started coming downwards via the Tarakote marg... The ambulances were running to and fro quickly... The yatra has been halted. The returnees are coming down via the Tarakote marg," said Satish Kumar, a devotee at Vaishno Devi, Katra.

While Sunny Giri from Amritsar added, “I don't know where the people are who were with me. I have been looking for them since yesterday. There were five people with me. Since I am unable to find or contact them, I assume they might be injured... I don't know anything about any hospital here since I am not from here.”

Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mohammad Alyas Khan, says, "Since the last two days, heavy rain has been occurring, causing the water level of the Chenab to go above the danger mark. Today, it has receded somewhat. We appeal to people not to go near the Chenab. We have also evacuated people living in lower-lying areas to safer locations. We also urge people not to go near small sewers. We are inspecting the highway. There are some landslides happening here... People should avoid going on the highway for now. The administration is on high alert, and all our teams are active. We have also shared our control room numbers. SDRF teams are also on high alert."

Major rivers including Chenab, Tawi, Ravi, Ujh, Basantar and Sahar Khad are flowing above or near danger levels, inundating low-lying areas and villages.

All government and private schools across Jammu division have been ordered shut till August 27, while Class 10 and 11 board exams have been postponed.

Mobile and broadband networks collapsed in many areas of Jammu division after optical fibre cables were snapped due to flooding and landslides.

Eighteen trains to and from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu were cancelled on Tuesday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded amid the flooding and landslides.

Authorities have suspended the Vaishno Devi yatra following the landslide, with rescue operations underway to clear the route and assist stranded devotees.

Torrential rains across Jammu and Kashmir have killed at least 31 people so far, with officials warning the toll may go up as rescue teams search for the missing.