Tragedy in Vaishno Devi: Landslide claims the lives of two pilgrims

Two female pilgrims were killed and a young girl was seriously injured in a landslide on the new road to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials confirmed.

They reported that the landslide occurred around 2.35 pm near Panchi, about three kilometres from Bhawan, and damaged part of an iron structure above the building.

The victims were on their way to the shrine when they got trapped under the iron structure following the landslide. Reasi Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan cited a preliminary report saying that two women died and a girl sustained serious injuries in the incident.

Senior police and civil administration officials have rushed to the accident site to oversee rescue operations. Further details are awaited, Mahajan said.

Mahajan is on his way to Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine on the Trikuta hills. Officials said the rescue operation was launched immediately after the landslide and foot traffic on the route has been suspended. This tragic event follows a stampede on New Year's Day 2022 at the shrine in which 12 pilgrims died and 16 others were injured.

(With contributions from agencies.)