The death toll in the Vaishno Devi landslide has risen to 32, with at least 20 others injured. The landslide struck on Tuesday afternoon on the route to the shrine in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir. It came after days of relentless rain. Large rocks and boulders tumbled down, catching pilgrims on the 12-km trek from Katra to the hilltop temple.
Authorities had suspended the Himkoti route earlier in the day due to heavy rain. But the old track remained open until 1:30 PM. Pilgrims were still moving when disaster hit around 3 PM.
Ignored Weather Warnings
The Meteorological Department had issued several alerts about cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. Yet, the administration allowed the pilgrimage to continue.
A senior police officer, speaking anonymously, called it “criminal neglect.” He said, “When the meteorological department had been regularly issuing weather forecasts… the administration showed criminal neglect in not suspending the Machail Mata Yatra and Vaishno Devi pilgrimage.”
The officer also pointed out that the Amarnath Yatra was suspended earlier in similar weather conditions, while Vaishno Devi and Machail Mata yatras continued despite the risks.
Administration Under Fire
Criticism has mounted against the LG Manoj Sinha-led administration. Locals and experts say that ignoring warnings and keeping the pilgrimage open cost lives.
Deepak Kumar, a resident of Katra, said, “We had never seen before such death and destruction on Trikuta Hills. The shrine board has ruined these hills just to increase the footfall of pilgrims to mint money.”
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Journalist Rohit Jandial added, “Announcing a few lakhs of rupees as ex gratia relief and offering cosmetic condolences can never absolve the administration of its responsibility.”
Pattern of Neglect
This is not the first such tragedy. In the last 12 days alone, rain-related disasters in the Jammu region have claimed at least 136 lives. This includes 65 deaths in Kishtwar and seven in Kathua.
In January 2022, a stampede at Vaishno Devi killed 12 pilgrims. Although a probe was ordered, the results were never released. Critics argue that the administration has failed to learn from past tragedies.
Development vs. Ecology
Locals argue that unplanned construction and tree cutting on Trikuta Hills worsened the landslide. New tracks built to handle the growing number of pilgrims may have weakened the fragile Himalayan slopes.
Environmental experts warn that ignoring the eco-fragile nature of the region will only invite more disasters. As one resident said, the rush for more tourism revenue has put both the shrine and lives at risk.
ALSO READ: Vaishno Devi Yatra Halted Due to Heavy Rainfall in Jammu
While relief operations are ongoing, many demand answers from the administration. Families of victims say lives could have been saved if yatras were suspended earlier. As one officer said, “If the administration was prompt in suspending Amarnath Yatra… not suspending Vaishno Devi in time amounts to insensitivity.”
The Vaishno Devi landslide has now become a symbol of ignored warnings, fragile ecology, and lack of accountability — raising urgent questions about how many more tragedies it will take for change.
