Vaishno Devi track landslide death toll 34

Jammu, Aug 27: The death toll, a day after the tragic incident of a heavy rain-induced landslide at Adhkwari on the Vaishno Devi track, reached 34, including at least seven minors, as the rescue operation was almost wrapped up on Wednesday.

Among 34 deceased, presumably all the pilgrims, ten bodies remained unidentified while the identity of 24 others was well ascertained. All 34 bodies were brought to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Jammu.

Around 20 others, mainly pilgrims, also sustained injuries in the incident, which the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said was triggered by a cloudburst at Adhkwari, when the yatra was already suspended.

LG Sinha said several people were washed away in flash floods triggered by a cloud burst, and many precious lives were lost.

Of the injured, some were still undergoing treatment at different hospitals, including 13 at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality hospital, Katra, while a few others were discharged. Initially, on Wednesday, 25 bodies were shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu. They were identified as Pinky, 20-25 years, resident of Delhi; Raj, 8-10 years, resident of Punjab; Neera, 30-35 years, resident of UP; Chandini, 25-30 years; Arvind Kumar Soni, 45, resident of Sujangarh-Churu, Rajasthan; Bhawna, 10-12 years; Krishana, 25-30 years, resident of Punjab; Gajanand, 25-30 years, resident of Rajasthan; Sunita, 30-35 years, resident of UP; Manpreet, 15-20 years, resident of Punjab; Tania, 20-25 years, resident of Delhi; Ajay, 40-45 years, resident of Delhi; Aariket, 10-15 years, resident of Mahoroghtra; Sandeep Soni, 41 years, resident of Indra Colony Nagour, Rajasthan; Ramsheran, 40, resident of Punjab; Anjali, 25 years; Mamta, 45 years and Kartik, 22 years, resident of Muzaffarpur Nagar, UP.

Seven bodies, however, could not be identified, and they also included two female children.

Later, nine more bodies were brought to GMCH Jammu and they were identified as Rattan Bai, wife of Bhagat Ram, resident of Bhilka Kheri, MP; Faqir Chand, son of Gautam Ji Gujjar, resident of Bilkh, Kheri, MP; Anil of Rajasthan; Ram Pal, resident of Bakarwala Yamuna Nagar, Haryana (status of residence was being cross-checked) and Anant, 6, resident of UP and Raja, son of Pardeep, resident of North Delhi. The identity of three bodies, including that of a child, was yet to be ascertained.

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and the administration were making arrangements to send the bodies of the victims to their native places.

Officials engaged in the relief and rescue operation stated that the major exercise to clear landslide debris and trace any signs of life or body was almost over.

“Though there remained a remote possibility of any other (dead) body still trapped under the debris, yet some people were still approaching that they were not able to contact their members of the family or relatives, so the rescue operation was not formally declared wound up,” they stated.

Notably, inclement weather conditions and network outages were major hindrances to smooth communication. Though the situation improved on Wednesday after the weather opened up yet it was still not fully normal.

Earlier on Tuesday, immediately after the incident, Central Reserve Police Force personnel of 6 Bn swiftly launched rescue operations as the first responders and evacuated the injured to the Community Health Centre (CHC), Katra.

They also helped the stranded pilgrims to move out to safety besides providing all required medical and logistical support. An IAF C-130 transport aircraft carrying NDRF load too reached Jammu to provide aid to people affected in the landslide at Adhkwari.

The Army had also mobilized its three relief columns in and around Katra to assist in relief and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, across the Jammu division, damages to critical infrastructure, public and private properties, caused by heavy rains triggering flash floods and landslides on August 26, were being assessed.

Relief and rescue operations continued across the division, and restoration work related to damaged roads and bridges was going on in full swing.

Residents of localities, which were totally marooned in flood water, had brief moments of reprieve as the water level receded and the civic authorities expedited de-watering and sanitation exercises.

However, gigantic losses incurred in the rains and flash floods left them a distraught lot.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while admitting that the losses were monumental, while responding to media queries about the extent of losses, stated that damage assessment would start once the rescue operations were completed and that would follow relief distribution. “Once damages are assessed, a relief package will be announced. Centre has promised wholehearted support in the relief and restoration process,” he said.

Adding to the people’s woes were badly impacted water and power supplies, which could not be restored in the majority of flood or rain ravaged areas in all eight affected districts, including the winter capital city in Jammu district.

Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, regarding the updated status in Jammu, said, “I am receiving calls and messages from different parts of the country expressing concern at not being able to reach their families living in the Jammu division, nor being able to reach the helpline numbers posted on this handle this morning. This is so because of the severely disrupted telecom network in the region.”

“Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar has been asked to get the public helplines restored on priority, so that with immediate effect, there could be at least one viable communication channel available which could convey the messages further on,” the Union Minister said.

With regard to the impacted water and power supply, he said that even in Jammu and Udhampur towns, he believed almost 30-35 percent restoration was done.

“Despite working through the night, the authorities in Jammu are managing the aftermath of severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall,” he said.

Reports of losses on account of heavy rains continued to pour in on Wednesday.

Officials said that a massive landslide hit the Peer Kho area in Jammu, blocking the road for traffic. Several vehicles, including cars, were damaged. Restoration work was on, they said. The swollen Tawi had also eroded parts of the temple located on its banks. Jammu had received 380 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, breaking the previous record of 270.4 mm on September 25, 1988.

Meanwhile, almost all the swollen water bodies were receding on Wednesday. In Jammu district, the Chenab River was flowing above the danger level with its current level 36.5 feet, yet its water was receding.

The Tawi River, Balole nullah were flowing well below alarm level, and the water was further receding.

In Kathua district, the Tarnah River, Ujh River, and Ravi Rivers were flowing above the alarm level, and the water was declining.

In the Samba district, the Basanter rivers and Bein nallah were flowing well below alarm level, and their status was stable.

Meanwhile, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Jammu wing, on Wednesday declared August 27 as a non working day in view of the prevailing extraordinary climatic conditions and the high alert issued by the Divisional Commissioner Jammu.