Katra, August 27, 2025 – Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH) in Katra , where he met and enquired about the health of devotees injured in the tragic landslide near Ardhkuwari on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine route. The visit underscores the administration’s commitment to providing comprehensive support to victims of the recent natural calamities ravaging Jammu and Kashmir, including the devastating landslide that has claimed at least 31 lives and injured over 20 others, amid relentless heavy rainfall triggering widespread floods and disruptions.
A team of senior doctors briefed LG Sinha on the condition of the injured pilgrims and the ongoing medical procedures. He directed the hospital administration and medical staff to ensure the best possible treatment for their speedy recovery. It was reported that 13 devotees are currently receiving treatment at SMVDNSH, with all in stable condition. The Lieutenant Governor expressed profound gratitude to emergency responders, employees of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), and local citizens for their exemplary interventions that saved numerous lives during the crisis. Interacting with media personnel at the hospital, LG Sinha described the incident as a “heart-wrenching natural calamity” triggered by a cloudburst, noting that the yatra had been suspended the previous day due to adverse weather. “Devotees at Ardhkuwari were caught in it. In this tragedy, we have lost precious lives. We are providing all possible assistance to bereaved families,” he stated. He announced ex-gratia relief for the families of the deceased, with the Shrine Board’s policy providing Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin for any unfortunate incident, plus an additional Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The administration and Shrine Board are extending all necessary support to the affected families. The landslide near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Ardhkuwari, occurring around 3 PM on August 26, was caused by incessant heavy rains—the heaviest in decades, with Jammu recording over 380 mm in 38 hours—burying pilgrims under mud, boulders, and debris midway along the 12-km trek from Katra to the shrine.
The Vaishno Devi yatra was immediately suspended on both the old and Himkoti routes, with rescue operations involving the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, CRPF, and local teams ongoing to clear debris and evacuate stranded devotees. At least 17 NDRF teams and three Army relief columns have been deployed, alongside 32 special boats airlifted for flood-prone areas. LG Sinha also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the overall flood situation and ongoing relief and rescue operations across various districts in Jammu and Kashmir. He directed officials to maintain maximum readiness, ensure staff presence at posts, and respond promptly to emergency situations, amid forecasts of continued heavy rain, cloudbursts, and flash floods until the week’s end.
The broader crisis has seen over 5,000 evacuations, 22 train cancellations, telecom blackouts (with intra-circle roaming activated until September 2), and rivers like Tawi, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, and Basantar surging above danger levels, inundating low-lying areas and damaging infrastructure. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has convened emergency meetings and allocated funds for rehabilitation, while urging residents to avoid flood-prone zones and follow advisories via helplines like 112 and 6005953255.The SMVDNSH, a 467-bed NABH-accredited facility inaugurated in 2016 by PM Modi in collaboration with Narayana Health and the Shrine Board, specializes in over 20 areas including cardiology, oncology, and critical care, playing a pivotal role in the region’s disaster response. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, with the IMD issuing red alerts for heavy rainfall, and pilgrims advised to check official updates before planning travel.
