Jammu Landslides Claim Two Lives, Injure Dozens; Raise Urgency for Disaster Preparedness
By: Javid Amin | Jammu | 21 July 2025
Nature’s Fury Unleashed on Jammu: July 21 Landslides Kill Two, Injure Many
Jammu and Kashmir, reeling under relentless monsoon rains, witnessed two back-to-back landslide tragedies on July 21, 2025, exposing once again the fragile nature of infrastructure and the glaring need for disaster preparedness in high-risk zones.
Reasi District: Pilgrim Killed Near Vaishno Devi Shrine
In Katra, a major religious pilgrimage site, tragedy struck when a landslide hit the old track to the Vaishno Devi shrine, claiming the life of Uppan Srivastava, a 70-year-old pilgrim from Chennai.
What Happened?
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The landslide occurred near Gulshan Ka Langar, collapsing a booking office and an overhead iron structure.
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Srivastava was buried under debris and declared dead on the spot.
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Nine others were injured, including:
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His wife
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Pilgrims from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh
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Two local shrine volunteers
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Yatra Suspension & Resumption
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Authorities immediately suspended the yatra via the old track.
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The Tarakote route, a safer alternative, was reopened after safety inspections.
Shrine Board & Army in Action
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The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, in coordination with the Army’s White Knight Corps, conducted rescue operations.
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Injured persons were airlifted to nearby hospitals in Katra and Jammu.
Poonch Disaster: School Turns Into a Death Trap
Just hours later, in Bhainch-Kalsian village of Poonch district, a massive boulder—dislodged by heavy rain—crashed into a government primary school, killing 5-year-old Ehsan Ali and injuring four classmates.
Victim Details
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Deceased:
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Ehsan Ali, son of Mohammad Razaq
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Injured Children:
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Mohammad Safeer (7)
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Bilal Farooq (8)
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Aftab Ahmed (6)
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Tobia Kouser (7)
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All were shifted to Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital and are reportedly stable but traumatised.
Immediate Compensation Announced
Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal sanctioned:
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₹1 lakh for the bereaved family
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₹50,000 for each injured child
(Under the District Red Cross Fund)
Leaders React: Sympathy & Structural Warnings
Both Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and former CM Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow and called for structural audits and disaster risk assessments in hilly zones.
“We must not let these deaths go in vain. A thorough audit of school buildings in vulnerable areas must follow,”
said Omar Abdullah during his address at a hospital visit in Poonch.
Root Causes: Natural Disaster or Negligent Infrastructure?
While the landslides were rain-triggered, experts and locals are pointing fingers at structural negligence and poor disaster planning.
Infrastructure Red Flags:
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No retaining walls or landslide barriers near the school
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Lack of early warning systems on the Vaishno Devi old track
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Absence of real-time weather alerts at high-risk checkpoints
What Needs Urgent Action?
01. Comprehensive Disaster Mapping
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Create district-wise vulnerability maps for landslides and flash floods.
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Identify critical infrastructure (schools, hospitals, pilgrimage tracks) in hazard zones.
02. Structural Audits
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Mandatory retrofitting of government buildings, especially in hilly areas.
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Enforce geo-technical reviews before approving school or shrine-related construction.
03. Weather Alert Integration
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Integrate IMD alerts into public address systems in remote areas.
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Use mobile push notifications for tourists and pilgrims.
04. Emergency Training in Schools
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Conduct quarterly drills for students and teachers.
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Install emergency exits and shelters in disaster-prone schools.
Human Stories Amid Tragedy
Locals described chaotic scenes as people rushed to rescue injured children trapped in the debris of the school.
“I was in the next room when I heard a loud boom. Dust and screams followed,”
said Shabir Ahmed, a school staffer who helped evacuate three injured students.
“My daughter is alive, but she keeps crying every time she hears thunder,”
said the mother of Tobia Kouser, still in shock after the ordeal.
Pattern or Coincidence?
This double-tragedy comes just days after:
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Multiple cloudbursts in South Kashmir
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Urban flooding in Srinagar’s downtown
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Widespread power outages and blocked roads
Environmentalists say these are not isolated events but a pattern of climate volatility compounded by poor planning.
Bottom-Line: A Wake-Up Call for Jammu & Kashmir
The July 21 landslides are not just natural disasters—they are warnings etched in grief, signaling the urgent need for resilient infrastructure, policy reform, and proactive governance.
If lessons are not learned now, future tragedies may come with even greater costs.
