VAISHNODEVI TRAGEDY TOLL REACHES 34 numbers , PM EXPRESSED HIS GRIEF.

The toll in Katra, Vaishnodevi shrine tragedy due to a massive landslide at ( near) Ardhquari has risen to thirty four numbers a biggest ever toll. The landslide that was the result of massive rain in Jammu and Udhampur has broken all records during the last fifty years. There had been 296 millimetres of rain during the last twenty four hours breaking the record of the last fifty years. The earlier record was in the year 1973 of the rain measuring 272.2 millimetres. Due to the massive rains in Jammu and Kashmir, in the last 24 hours and subsequent deluge there have been incidents of landslides, damage to bridges, railway lines and several houses including agricultural lands with people being taken to safe shelters. The Northern Railways have to cancel the to and fro trains from Jammu and Kashmir railway stations numbering 58 trains while 64 trains have been stopped on the way under the jurisdiction of the Jammu railways division. The Prime minister Narendra Modi while expressing his condolences said on X : The loss of lives due to a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is saddening. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The administration is assisting all those affected. My prayers for everyone’s safety and well-being. On the deluge in Jammu the union minister Dr.Jitendra Singh said : “Despite working through the night, authorities in Jammu are managing the aftermath of severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall… Water levels of River Tawi have receded, but the River Chenab’s water levels surpassed the danger mark, leading to significant structural damage, including the Tawi Bridge and historic Madhupur Bridge… Coordination among the army, paramilitary, navy, and civil authorities is strong, with schools and colleges closed and the public urged to minimize non-essential movement… Mobile services, electricity, and water supply have been disrupted but are gradually being restored. Almost 30-35% of the restoration has been done… This is the heaviest rain in the last 99 years according to the India Meteorological Department…” On the Vaishnodevi tragedy the minister said quoting IANS : I think the weather forecast was there, but the rains have been heavy and as our statistics point out in the IMD, this is possibly the heaviest rainfall in the last 99 years. I think that’s very reassuring for us that the Prime Minister is personally keeping a track of the situation and he’s receiving regular updates, so that’s a huge, huge encouragement for us” said the minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his serious concern and grief over the tragic demise of 34 persons in the Jammu, Katra tragedy. He said that he prays for rendering the departed soul peace and early recovery of those who are injured. Many states of the country including Jammu and Kashmir – Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are in the grip of heavy rains and flood-like situations. Our Congress government and administration teams of Himachal are engaged in relief and rescue operations with full readiness said the veteran Congress chief. He said : In this difficult situation, I expect the Congress leaders and workers of all these states to provide all possible help to the victims.