Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under the full force of the monsoon, with heavy rains triggering landslides, flash floods, and serious damage to infrastructure across the Union Territory. The most tragic incident has been reported at Adhkuwari on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in Reasi district, where a devastating landslide struck on Tuesday.

The calamity has already claimed at least 32 lives, forcing the authorities to suspend the pilgrimage while rescue and relief operations continue at the site. To protect people from further harm, the administration has ordered all schools and colleges in the Jammu division to remain closed. Citizens have also been strictly advised against unnecessary travel, and night movement has been restricted due to the dangerous conditions. While the water level in the River Tawi has receded, the River Chenab is still flowing close to the danger mark, keeping the flood threat alive. Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, and the military are on standby to handle any new emergencies.

Given the severity of the weather, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced the suspension of the yatra and appealed to pilgrims to reschedule their journey only after conditions improve. Disturbing visuals from the landslide site show heavy machinery and rescue teams working to clear debris, with many still feared trapped. Personnel from the local administration, the CRPF, and the NDRF are engaged in round-the-clock operations to save lives.

The disaster occurred near Ardhkuwari, about 12 kilometers from Trikuta Hill, at around 3:00 pm on Tuesday. Massive boulders and mud came crashing down the hillside, crushing tin sheds and tearing away metal railings along the path. In response, the Shrine Board issued emergency helpline numbers for families searching for loved ones. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the tragedy, describing it as deeply saddening, and assured that authorities were providing full assistance to all affected families.

The relentless downpours have left a trail of devastation across Jammu and Kashmir. Roads have been washed away, bridges have collapsed, and communication and power supply systems have broken down. Officials reported that about 3,500 residents were evacuated by Tuesday following continuous rains and sudden cloudbursts. Between 20 and 30 low-lying areas, including parts of Jammu and Samba, were submerged by floodwaters. Districts such as RS Pura, Akhnoor, Nagrota, Kot Bhalwal, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Purmandal, Kathua, and Udhampur have been badly affected, while lighter but persistent rains continue to lash areas like Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Billawar, Katra, Ramnagar, Hiranagar, Gool, Banihal, and nearby parts of Samba and Kathua.

Communication services, which had been crippled after optical fibre cables were damaged, were finally restored across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, 24 hours after the outage. Officials confirmed, “The phone and internet services, including mobile internet, fibre and landline internet, have been restored,” adding that users can now access 5G speeds again after reconnection of optical fibre in the Jammu region.

Srinagar Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg also underlined the seriousness of the situation, saying, “Adverse weather conditions are prevailing... The situation is being closely monitored. Irrigation and flood control teams are continuously monitoring from South Kashmir to North Kashmir. Our water gauge levels are being monitored closely at Sangam, Anantnag, and Ram Munshi Bagh. All our DCs of South Kashmir and Central Kashmir are on spot... We had closed schools, colleges and universities last night as a precautionary measure...”

Adding to the concern, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the preparedness of the administration in light of weather warnings. He said, “If we already knew about the weather, couldn't we do something to ensure that those innocent lives were saved. Why were they on the track? Why weren't they taken to a safe place? We are sad that around 29-30 people have lost their lives in Katra. There has been major damage in the low-lying areas like Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur, Doda... We will have to take measures for the people residing near the rivers illegally. They will have to be moved to a new place...”

He further noted the scale of destruction caused by floods and cloudbursts. “... I spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi right now and provided him the details about the situation. He ensured that all possible help would be provided by the Central government... There is some relief today as the rain has almost stopped. Water has started receding from the low-lying areas. The loss due to the disaster is before you. In 2014, the same section of this bridge was damaged. This means that there is some risk associated with this section of the bridge. We will have to ensure that such an incident does not take place again. We will also need to take action for the houses near the river. Relief and rescue work has started...”

Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar Highway has been blocked by multiple landslides, cutting off road connectivity. SSP Traffic NHW Raja Adil Hamid reported, “A major landslide has also occurred near Dewal in Udhampur. We have not yet received complete updates due to the lack of mobile connectivity. I urge all travellers to avoid planning any journeys on NH-44 until the highway is fully cleared.”

The railway network has also been badly hit. A passenger train between Jammu and Katra has been stranded for over 24 hours after boulders blocked the tracks ahead. The train, which stopped around noon on Tuesday, is still stuck, as damaged roads nearby have slowed down rescue teams. All rail services to Jammu have been suspended, with trains only running up to Pathankot. Northern Railways officials confirmed that debris and waterlogging have blocked multiple stretches of track. Restoration is in progress, but no clear timeline has been announced. Passengers have been advised to check updated schedules as many trains remain cancelled or diverted.