At least 30 people have been killed after torrential rains triggered a landslide on a popular pilgrimage route in Jammu, northern India, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The disaster struck near the Vaishno Devi shrine, a major Hindu religious site, as severe weather caused flooding and widespread disruption.
Local officials issued overnight warnings urging residents to stay indoors as heavy rainfall continued to batter the region. The India Meteorological Department forecast more downpours, thunderstorms, and strong winds across Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the mountainous Ladakh area.
Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said efforts were under way to restore communication services in the affected districts, which he described as almost entirely cut off.
According to India’s Asian News International agency, the landslide near Vaishno Devi shrine was responsible for most of the fatalities. In response to the flooding, authorities ordered the closure of schools in Jammu after rainfall reached 368 millimeters on Tuesday.
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