Monsoon fury claims two lives in Jammu region; Disrupts life, Vaishno Devi Yatra
Reasi Admin orders closure of schools
SAHIL VERMA
Jammu, July 21: Heavy monsoon rains have unleashed devastation across parts of the Jammu region, triggering landslides and disrupting normal life. The torrential downpour has resulted in two fatalities and several injuries today.
In a tragic incident in the Poonch district, a 5-year-old student, Ehsan Ali, lost their life, and four other children were injured when a boulder, dislodged by a landslide, struck a government school in the Bainch-Kalsain area. Four students and a teacher were evacuated and shifted to a hospital in Poonch. The injured include Mohammad Safeer (7), Bilal Farooq (8), Aftab Ahmad (7), and Tobia Kausar (7).
The Lieutenant Governor also condoled the tragic death of the schoolboy in Poonch district. “The news of the death of a 5-year-old child due to a rockslide that crashed into a primary school in Kalsian, Poonch, is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents to bear this irreparable loss. I pray for the speedy recovery of the other children injured in the incident,” he said.
In Reasi district, a 70-year-old pilgrim lost his life and nine others were injured when a massive landslide struck the old track leading to the Vaishno Devi shrine near Banganga. Officials reported that a booking office and an overhead iron structure collapsed under the pressure of the landslide, which was triggered by heavy rains lashing Katra town — the base camp for pilgrims heading to the shrine atop Trikuta hills. The yatra was initially suspended as a precautionary measure but later resumed via the Tarakote track after safety clearance. Efforts are underway to restore the new track near Himkoti, which was blocked by another landslide on Sunday night.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the tragic landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine that resulted in the death of a pilgrim and injuries to others.
He said he is closely monitoring the situation and has directed the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.
According to the Meteorological Department, Katra town recorded 184.2 mm of rainfall during the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Monday.
Given the prevailing inclement weather, the Reasi District Administration has ordered the closure of all government and private schools in the district on July 22, 2025, as a precautionary measure.
Further disrupting transportation, a landslide near Tunnel T-1 at Ban Nagrota on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) struck a vehicle, injuring a probationary Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP). The officer sustained injuries and was treated and discharged from a local hospital. The landslide blocked one lane of the highway, causing traffic to be diverted, and restoration efforts are in progress. Authorities are advising commuters to drive cautiously on mountain roads.
