Tragedy at Vaishno Devi: Landslide Claims Lives of Two Women Pilgrims

A tragic landslide on the new track to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district resulted in the deaths of two women pilgrims and grievously injured a young girl. The incident, which damaged an overhead iron structure, has prompted an immediate rescue operation and suspension of pilgrim movement.

Two women pilgrims lost their lives and a young girl was severely injured in a landslide on the new track to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Monday, officials confirmed.

The landslide struck near Panchi, approximately three kilometers ahead of Bhawan at around 2.35 pm, damaging a portion of an overhead iron structure, they reported.

The victims were heading for the shrine when they became trapped under the iron structure following the landslide. Deputy Commissioner of Reasi Vishesh Paul Mahajan cited a preliminary report indicating that two women died and a girl sustained serious injuries in the incident.

Senior police and civil administration officers have hurried to the site to oversee rescue operations. Further details are awaited, according to Mahajan.

Mahajan is en route to Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine atop Trikuta hills. Officials stated that the rescue operation was initiated promptly after the landslide, and pedestrian movement on the track has been suspended. This tragic event follows a New Year's Day stampede in 2022 at the shrine that left 12 pilgrims dead and 16 others injured.

(With inputs from agencies.)