The death toll in the massive landslide on the old track of Vaishno Devi Dham in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, has risen to 30. Relief work is underway after this accident near the Ardhkumari temple on Tuesday afternoon. The pilgrimage has been postponed due to heavy rains, and many trains have been cancelled.

Mata Vaishno Devi Route Landslide : The death toll in a massive landslide on the old track of Mata Vaishno Devi Dham in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday afternoon has risen to 30 on Wednesday. It is feared that this death toll may increase further. The landslide incident occurred at 3 pm on Tuesday. Earlier, there was news of 7 devotees dying, which has increased to 30. This accident happened due to more than 250 mm of rain in less than 24 hours.

When and where did the accident happen?

The accident took place on Tuesday afternoon at around 3 pm on the old track near Indraprastha Bhojanalaya, a little ahead of Ardhkumari temple. Due to sudden heavy rains, rocks and debris slid from the hill, which engulfed the passengers on the track.

Till Wednesday morning, seven people were reported dead, but the death toll rose rapidly as more bodies were recovered during rescue and relief operations. Teams of NDRF, police and local administration are continuously working to rescue people trapped in the debris. However, relief operations are facing challenges due to heavy rains and bad weather conditions.

The condition worsened due to heavy rain

The main reason for this accident is believed to be the torrential rain that fell in Jammu city on Tuesday. More than 250 mm of rain was recorded in Jammu in less than 24 hours, creating flood-like conditions in the area. Houses and fields in low-lying areas are flooded.

Travel suspended, trains cancelled

In view of these conditions, the administration has temporarily suspended the Vaishno Devi Yatra. According to news agency ANI, 18 trains have been cancelled. The administration has appealed to people to avoid travelling till further notice and keep an eye on official sources for new weather related information.

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