Katra/Jammu, Two women pilgrims from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were killed while a five-year-old girl was seriously injured in a landslide on the new track towards Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said .
The movement of pilgrims on the Himkoti route was stopped following the landslide, but the pilgrimage to the shrine atop the Trikuta hills continued through the traditional Sanjhichatt route, they said.
Officials said the landslide hit the road near Panchi, three kilometers ahead of Bhawan, around 2.15 pm. A part of an elevated iron structure was also damaged, they said.
The pilgrims were heading to the shrine when they became trapped under the iron structure after the landslide, authorities said.
According to them, the landslide was caused by the throwing of stones following the rains of recent days.
Reasi Vishesh Deputy Commissioner Paul Mahajan confirmed the girl's death and injuries and said senior police and civil administration officials had rushed to the spot.
Mahajan also left for Katra, the base camp of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, to assess the situation and personally know the condition of the injured girl.
Officials said disaster management teams of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) immediately reached the incident site and launched a rescue operation.
The deceased have been identified as Sapna (27) from Dhianpur village in Punjab's Gurdaspur, and Neha (23) from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.
The injured girl, Sanvi, a resident of Kanpur, was admitted to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Specialty Hospital for treatment.
Her grandfather L Prasad said they were taking a break from the walk to the shrine when the police started clearing the road due to a monkey scare.
"Suddenly a landslide occurred and debris fell on the tin shed, which collapsed," she said.
On New Year's Day 2022, a stampede at the shrine left 12 pilgrims dead and 16 injured.
The movement of pilgrims on the Himkoti route was stopped following the landslide, but the pilgrimage to the shrine atop the Trikuta hills continued through the traditional Sanjhichatt route, they said.
Officials said the landslide hit the road near Panchi, three kilometers ahead of Bhawan, around 2.15 pm. A part of an elevated iron structure was also damaged, they said.
The pilgrims were heading to the shrine when they became trapped under the iron structure after the landslide, authorities said.
According to them, the landslide was caused by the throwing of stones following the rains of recent days.
Reasi Vishesh Deputy Commissioner Paul Mahajan confirmed the girl's death and injuries and said senior police and civil administration officials had rushed to the spot.
Mahajan also left for Katra, the base camp of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, to assess the situation and personally know the condition of the injured girl.
Officials said disaster management teams of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) immediately reached the incident site and launched a rescue operation.
The deceased have been identified as Sapna (27) from Dhianpur village in Punjab's Gurdaspur, and Neha (23) from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.
The injured girl, Sanvi, a resident of Kanpur, was admitted to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Specialty Hospital for treatment.
Her grandfather L Prasad said they were taking a break from the walk to the shrine when the police started clearing the road due to a monkey scare.
"Suddenly a landslide occurred and debris fell on the tin shed, which collapsed," she said.
On New Year's Day 2022, a stampede at the shrine left 12 pilgrims dead and 16 injured.
