A tragic landslide occurred on the new track leading to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Monday, claiming the lives of two women pilgrims and injuring a girl severely. The incident took place near Panchi, approximately three kilometers ahead of Bhawan, around 2:35 pm.
Reports indicate that the landslide struck a portion of the new track, causing damage to an overhead iron structure. The victims, who were en route to the Vaishno Devi shrine, were trapped when the landslide triggered the collapse of the iron structure.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board CEO confirmed that the disaster management team has been deployed to the site. Vishesh Paul Mahajan, the Deputy Commissioner of Reasi district, confirmed the fatalities based on preliminary reports. He stated that two women lost their lives and a young girl sustained critical injuries in the incident.
Senior police and civil administration officials have been dispatched to the scene, and further details are awaited. Mahajan himself is en route to Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop Trikuta hills.
The Vaishno Devi shrine is a highly revered pilgrimage site attracting millions of devotees annually. This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with natural disasters, especially in mountainous regions. The authorities are working diligently to assess the situation and provide assistance to the affected families.
