After a couple of days of relative calm on September 1 and September 2, the weather seems ominous once again in entire J&K. On the morning of September 2, there were reports of heavy to very heavy rains at isolated placed in the Jammu region even as schools remained closed for the 8th consecutive day. The Metrological Department officials have said that the situation is likely to remain uncertain till Thursday evening.
Due to the inclement weather, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has suspended the pilgrimage to the cave shrine for the past over a week. It is for the 8th day on Tuesday that the yatra remained suspended, an unprecedented situation that has been witnessed for the first time since the Shrine Board was created in 1986.
The Shrine Board has already announced that all bookings, including helicopter services and accommodation, and full refunds ordered. It may be recalled that on August 27, a devastating landslide near Indraprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkuwari, midway on the 12-kilometre trek from Katra to the holy shrine, had claimed 35 lives and left 20 others injured.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had ordered the constitution of a high-level three-member committee to investigate the causes of the landslide and recommend preventive measures for future.
Officials said that the resumption of the yatra will depend on weather conditions. Devotees across the country who had planned their pilgrimage have been advised to wait for further announcements from the Shrine Board.
Continuous heavy rainfall in Banihal and adjoining areas on Tuesday disrupted movement along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway 44. Reports of minor landslides and shooting stones from several stretches have heightened concerns over commuter safety.
The highway, which was partially on Monday to clear the stranded trucks, after days of closure, could not be opened today due to persistent rainfall. A senior police official said that keeping passenger safety in mind, the traffic movement was stopped after barely a couple of hours.
The traffic is moving smoothly on the Mughal Road (via Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch, Shopian to Srinagar) smoothly. This alternative route has steep gradient on some stretches and is not preferred by load carriers. However, at present it has kept the Kashmir valley connected to Jammu and beyond.
“The Prime Minister and the Government of India stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in this hour of crisis. Every possible support will be extended to bring normalcy back to people’s lives,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the victims while touring flood-ravaged areas in Jammu.
Late on Monday evening, he returned to Delhi where he is scheduled to meet PM Narendra Modi about the prevalent situation. PM Modi, who returned to Delhi after concluding his visits to China and Japan, has been closely monitoring developments in J&K since the onset of the disaster.
Since August 14, J&K has witnessed widespread devastation due to cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. More than 130 lives have been lost, and 33 people remain missing. Among the deceased are 34 Vaishno Devi pilgrims who tragically died in a massive landslide near the shrine route on August 26.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma has alleged that the Omar Abdullah-led government “failed to respond with the seriousness the flood disaster in Jammu required’’. Addressing a press conference at Jammu on Tuesday, Sharma said: “While our MLAs were on the ground helping people in every possible way, the National Conference (NC) government failed to respond with the seriousness this disaster required. Instead of acting promptly, it merely resorted to lip service and eyewash.”
Sharma highlighted the devastation caused by recent heavy rains, floods, and landslides across the Jammu region. He expressed serious concern over the large-scale damage in districts including Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, and Kathua following incessant rainfall.
He said that the calamity has destroyed homes, damaged crops, disrupted drinking water supply, and affected dams, leaving thousands of families in distress. He lauded the swift intervention of the Union Government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited affected areas, held a high-level review meeting with officials, and directed MPs and MLAs to reach out to people directly.
“Mr Shah has instructed all legislators to interact with affected families on September 4–6, arrange medical camps with doctors and medicines on September 9, and conduct cleanliness drives in flood-hit areas on September 10–11. This shows the Centre’s seriousness in addressing people’s pain.”
He further informed that a high-level central team comprising senior secretaries, headed by the Union Home Secretary, is assessing losses and will soon submit a detailed report.
The Prime Minister has also ensured full deployment of Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, and health officials for rescue and relief operations, he added. “The people of Jammu region expect sincerity, not mere announcements. The central government has stood firmly with J&K in this crisis, and we hope the UT government will now rise to its responsibility,’’ he said.
