Jammu: Two women pilgrims were killed and many devotees are believed to be injured after a landslide hit the new track to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.
Official sources told KNO, that the landslide hit the route near Panchi helipad, three km ahead of Bhawan, around 2.35 pm, also damaging a portion of an overhead iron structure, the officials said.
The officials said the two women pilgrims were critically injured and later succumbed while a minor also injured in the incident and rushed to nearest Shri Mata Vaishno devi Narayana Hospital .
The landslide resulted in injuries to several individuals. Initial reports indicated that one person was injured, but subsequent updates revealed that two to three people sustained injuries in the incident.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Vishesh Paul Mahajan told KNO that a landslide hit the new track of Vaishno Devi shrine in between Adhkwari to Mata Bhawan.
“During the slide two pilgrims died whereas another got injured,” DC said.
Meanwhile, a rescue operation was launched immediately after the landslide and the three injured pilgrims, including a woman, were evacuated to hospital. The officials said that the Panchi area of the Vaishno Devi track in Katra was particularly affected by the landslide. The ongoing rescue operations aim to ensure the safety of all devotees and to clear the debris from the track.
The landslide occurred near the Panchi Helipad on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan route, raising concerns that devotees may be trapped in the debris. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is conducting ongoing relief and rescue operations.
The CEO of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board also confirmed that shooting stones and a landslide had taken place on the shrine track.
The Disaster Management team of the Shrine Board promptly reached the spot, and efforts to rescue and provide aid to those affected are underway.
More details are awaited.
