Landslide Disrupts Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage; Several Injured, Route Closed

Heavy rainfall triggered a landslide on the Vaishno Devi Yatra route in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday morning. The incident near Banganga, which marks the beginning of the pilgrimage, injured at least four people. Rescue efforts were swiftly initiated by local authorities, volunteers, and shrine board personnel. The coordinated action led to the safe rescue of the injured. Eyewitness accounts indicated that several sheds along the route suffered significant damage, disrupting the flow of pilgrims and pony services. The route has been temporarily closed due to the landslide. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway also experienced disruptions due to a landslide near Udhampur’s Dewal bridge, impacting traffic movement.