Vaishno Devi tragedy: Five killed in Katra landslides, Army steps in for rescue

The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps has launched relief operations in Katra after deadly landslides near the Vaishno Devi shrine killed five pilgrims. Heavy rain has disrupted life across Jammu and Kashmir, collapsing bridges and cutting off key highways.

New Delhi: The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps has launched relief and rescue operations after deadly landslides near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir.

The Corps said in a post on X: “Update: Relief Operations: Katra Relief Column of #WhiteKnightCorps at Ardhkuwari, Katra in concert with rescue parties of Shrine Board, JKP and CRPF are assisting the victims of landslide. Close coordination with all agencies being carried out to maximise humanitarian aid. We Serve, We Protect!”

---

Triggered by incessant rainfall, the landslides claimed five lives and left four others injured. The incident occurred near Garnaai Lota on the Kishanpur-Domel Road, where pilgrims from Sampu town in Rajasthan’s Dholpur district were trapped in the debris. Police officials said three youths were swept away in strong water currents, while two others survived by swimming and clinging to a tree.

Rain havoc across Jammu and Kashmir

The heavy downpour has created widespread disruption across the Union Territory. In the Kashmir Valley, normal life was hit after mobile phone and internet services were suspended by several providers. The sudden blackout left many residents cut off from communication.

In the Jammu division, rivers flowed above danger levels, inundating low-lying areas and damaging infrastructure. A bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot highway collapsed under the force of swollen rivers, forcing a complete shutdown of the route. The Jammu-Srinagar highway was also blocked due to shooting stones, compounding the transportation crisis.

Ongoing relief efforts

Rescue teams from the Army, local administration, Shrine Board, and paramilitary forces are working in close coordination to aid stranded pilgrims and residents. Relief measures include clearing debris, evacuating people from vulnerable zones, and supplying essentials to affected areas.