Saralnama
At least 30 people died after a landslide triggered by heavy rains struck near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. The incident occurred on the route to the shrine on Trikuta hill during persistent monsoon rains. Rescue operations are underway, with the National Disaster Response Force deployed to assist. The Himkoti hike path was closed earlier, and the old route was suspended due to the weather. The landslide also disrupted railway services, causing cancellation of 18 trains between Pathankot Cantt and Kandrori. Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the event as extremely tragic and coordinated with local officials for relief efforts. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences and directed immediate assistance for the injured, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reported ongoing damage and disruption from continuous rains in the region. This follows recent severe monsoon activity in Jammu, including a cloudburst on August 17 that killed seven people in Kathua district. (Updated 27 Aug 2025, 10:48 IST; source: link)