Vaishno Devi landslide: Death toll rises to 32, rescue ops continue
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK Advertisement Advertisement Reasi, Aug 27: A devastating landslide on the route to the Vaishno Devi shrine in…
THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Reasi, Aug 27: A devastating landslide on the route to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district has claimed 32 lives, with rescue teams pulling out more bodies from the rubble on Wednesday.
At least 20 others are injured and undergoing treatment at various hospitals, while fears remain that more pilgrims may still be trapped beneath the debris.
The disaster struck around 3 pm on Tuesday near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, midway along the 12-km trek from Katra to the hilltop shrine.
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Torrential rains had lashed the region for days, loosening the mountainside before rocks and boulders suddenly thundered down, leaving pilgrims caught completely off guard.
Officials confirmed that 30 bodies were retrieved directly from the site of the landslide, while two of the injured later succumbed in hospital.
Rescue teams are continuing their search in treacherous conditions, digging through heavy mounds of rubble in the hope of finding survivors.
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The pilgrimage has been halted on both routes to the shrine. While the Himkoti trek was shut since Tuesday morning due to heavy rain, the old route was kept open until afternoon before being suspended as a precaution.
Authorities said relentless rainfall continues to cause havoc across the Jammu region, heightening the risk of further landslides.
