Heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides and flash floods have caused widespread devastation in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in at least 41 fatalities. A significant portion of these deaths, 34 in total, occurred on the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, a popular pilgrimage site. The disaster has prompted the suspension of the Vaishno Devi Yatra and raised concerns about the preparedness of authorities in the face of increasingly erratic weather patterns.

The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday afternoon when a landslide struck near Adhkuwari, a point along the 12-kilometer trek from Katra to the Vaishno Devi shrine. Pilgrims were caught unaware as stones, boulders, and rocks came hurtling down the mountainside around 3 pm. Rescue operations were immediately launched, but the challenging terrain and continued rainfall hampered efforts. Eighteen of the 34 bodies recovered from the Vaishno Devi route have been identified as residents of Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

In addition to the fatalities on the Vaishno Devi route, four deaths were reported in the hilly Doda district due to rain and flash floods earlier on Tuesday. Three more people died in separate rain-related incidents. The relentless downpour has caused rivers, including the Tawi, Chenab, and Jhelum, to swell past danger levels, leading to flash floods and inundation of low-lying areas. Several bridges have been damaged or washed away, and infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, disrupting transport and communication networks.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, a crucial link connecting the region to the rest of the country, remains blocked due to landslides and debris. Authorities have suspended traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highways as well. Train services to Jammu have also been suspended, leaving many travelers stranded.

The heavy rainfall, which has been lashing Jammu and Kashmir for the past several days, has broken records. Jammu recorded 380 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period, the highest since the establishment of the observatory in 1910. The previous record was 270.4 mm, recorded on September 25, 1988. The Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rainfall in the Jammu division, raising concerns about further landslides and flash floods.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the closure of all educational institutions and offices, except for essential services and law and order departments. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board initially suspended the Yatra on the Himkoti trek route but allowed it to continue on the old route until 1:30 pm on Tuesday. The Yatra was fully suspended later in the day in view of the torrential rain.

The recent tragedy has drawn criticism regarding the J&K administration's decision to continue the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage despite weather alerts forecasting heavy rain, cloudbursts, and landslides. Questions are being raised about the delay in suspending the Yatra through the old route, with some officials alleging "criminal neglect" by the administration.

Rescue operations are underway, with the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local administration working to evacuate people from flood-affected areas and provide assistance to those in need. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from low-lying areas and the banks of flooded rivers.