Tragedy on the Pilgrimage: Landslides Strike Vaishno Devi Routes Amid Monsoon Deluge

In mid‑July 2025, heavy monsoon rains triggered deadly landslides along both the old and new tracks leading to the iconic Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir. A pilgrimage that has drawn millions of devotees each year was shaken by sudden collapse of earth and debris, highlighting both the unpredictability of nature and the challenges of managing spiritual tourism under increasing climate stress.

1. Rainfall and Context

Between July 20 and 21, Katra town witnessed intense rainfall, accumulating over 184 mm within 24 hours by the morning of July 21. Further downpours caused saturation of slopes across the Trikuta Hills region—conditions ripe for slope failure.

2. Landslide on the Old Track: A Pilgrim Dies, Nine Injured

At approximately 8:30 am on July 21, a massive landslide hit the old route near Banganga, at a spot called Gulshan Ka Langar, where pony riders and pilgrims gather before beginning the 12‑km yatra uphill.

• One pilgrim, 70‑year‑old Kuppan Srinivasan from Chennai, was critically injured and later died during treatment at Narayan Hospital.
• Nine others were injured—three critically (including his 66‑year‑old wife, K. Radha, and Rajinder Bhalla from Haryana) and the rest with minor injuries.
• A booking office and overhead iron structure caved in as stones and debris struck, causing panic among pilgrims present at the site.

Rescue operations were swiftly launched by the Shrine Board, SDRF, police, CRPF, local volunteers, and the Army’s White Knight Corps, who deployed earth‑moving equipment to clear debris and evacuate the injured. Yatra was suspended for several hours, then resumed around 1 to 2 pm via the Tarakote (traditional) Path once safety was reassessed.

3. Blockage on New (Himkoti) Track: Another Debris Hazard

Not far away along the Himkoti route, which inaugurated as the new 7‑km uphill track, continued rain triggered a massive landslip on June 24, 2025 earlier in the season:

• Stones, mud, and debris blanketed over 30 feet of the new pathway near Satya View Point.
• Heavy rains lasted for nearly 2½ hours, prompting suspension of battery cars, cable cars, and helicopter services.
• Fortunately, no injuries were reported in that incident.
• Shrine Board teams immediately began clearing the blockage; authorities arranged alternative routes as pilgrims continued via traditional pathways.

4. Impact on Devotees, Tourism & Operations

• Despite the disruption and hazards, high footfall remained: more than 18,800 pilgrims registered on June 24, and the numbers remained strong into July.
• Authorities issued safety advisories, warning pilgrims not to stop in landslide‑prone zones and urging vigilance during travel.
• High‑level officials including J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed sorrow over the loss and assured best possible medical care for the injured.

5. Underlying Challenges and Longer-Term Concerns

• The monsoon‑driven landslides are part of a recurring pattern across the Reasi–Katra region, aggravated by steep terrain, deforestation, and increasing rainfall intensity.
• The new Himkoti route, though designed to improve accessibility, runs through geologically unstable slopes that become vulnerable during prolonged rain.
• Such episodes underscore the need for geotechnical reinforcement, improved drainage, early warning systems, and stricter no‑stop zones in high‑risk sections.

6. Human Stories Amid the Disaster

The July 21 landslide left pilgrims scrambling for safety. One local pony rider, Nikhil Thakur, recalled how stones started hitting the iron structure overhead; he and others alerted everyone and rushed out just in time, narrowly avoiding serious harm. The incident was poignant: a journey of faith literally upended in seconds by the force of nature.

7. Moving Forward: Lessons and Resilience

• Infrastructure resilience must be significantly enhanced, especially along newly developed or re‑routed paths exposed to slope instability.
• Rain‑aware pilgrim advisories, dynamic route closures, and tighter coordination between Shrine Board, meteorological agencies, and disaster response teams are essential during monsoon months.
• Local communities, volunteers, and CRPF/SDRF/Army units remain vital first responders; strengthened training and logistics will improve preparedness.
• Authorities and planners must consider the increasing frequency and intensity of monsoon events possibly propelled by climate change, building long‑term mitigation into pilgrimage infrastructure and route planning.

Conclusion

The Vaishno Devi landslides of June and July 2025 have been stark reminders of nature’s unpredictability. While the shrine continues to arise as a beacon of faith, the safety of its pilgrims depends on better planning, real‑time risk assessment, and infrastructure designed for extreme weather. As reconstruction and clearance operations progress, the losses—particularly the death of an elderly devotee—remain a solemn call for greater vigilance.

Pilgrims and authorities alike must carry forward a renewed commitment: honoring tradition with preparedness, and allowing devotion to co-exist with modern safety standards.