Landslide near Ardhkuwari disrupts Vaishno Devi pilgrimage; 5 Killed, several injured

Heavy rains and cloudburst incidents in the valley for the last several days have caused heavy devastation. Due to this, the Vaishno Devi Yatra has been stopped for the time being.

Jammu: A landslide has occurred near Indraprastha Bhojanalaya in Ardhkuwari area in Katra city of Jammu and Kashmir. Some people are likely to be injured in this accident and five people are said to be killed. Rescue and relief operations have been started immediately. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has confirmed this incident. Heavy rains and cloudburst incidents in the valley for the last several days have caused heavy devastation. Due to this, the Vaishno Devi Yatra has been stopped for the time being.

Injured People

Some people are feared to be injured in the landslide near Indraprastha Bhojanalaya located in Ardhkuwari. Rescue operations are going on with necessary manpower and machinery at the spot.

Meanwhile, the devastation caused by cloudburst in Doda district on Tuesday, August 26, claimed the lives of three people, while many others were injured. The Doda commissioner said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that due to heavy rains and landslides, traffic in the area has come to a complete standstill.

Weather Alert|#Traffic Advisory
Traffic on NH-244 (Doda–Kishtwar) at Jangalwar Nallah has been completely halted as a road stretch has been washed away due to continuous rainfall, landslides & shooting stones.
Public is advised to avoid travel until restoration.@harvinder_ias

— Deputy Commissioner Doda (@dcdodaofficial) August 26, 2025

Devastation In The Valley

National Highway-244 has also been damaged due to floods and landslides caused by cloudburst, disrupting connectivity between Doda and Kishtwar. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a review meeting regarding this massive devastation in the state. Seeing the seriousness of the situation, the Chief Minister has decided to visit the affected areas and personally inspect the situation.

Devastation due to cloudburst in Doda

There has been massive destruction due to cloudburst in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. At least 10 houses have been swept away in the natural flood from the mountains, and many people are trapped in the debris.

Rescue operations are underway, and the administration and relief teams are engaged in rescuing the trapped people. There is also news of a mild cloudburst in Udhampur, which has caused floods, and people are trapped.