IAF C-130 lands in Jammu with relief materials as Vaishno Devi landslide toll hits 32

Jammu: An Indian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft carrying relief and rescue material reached Jammu on Wednesday to provide aid to people affected by a landslide along the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine route near Adhkuwari, sources said. Officials also confirmed that the death toll in the landslide has climbed to 32.

The C130 transport aircraft carrying NDRF load reached Jammu from the Hindan Air Force station in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, a source said. Besides, helicopter assets such as Chinook, and Mi-17 V5 are on "active standby" at nearby bases in Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar and Pathankot, the source said.

NDRF teams, along with the Army and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), are working tirelessly to rescue stranded people and provide aid to those affected by the landslides and flash floods.

The relief efforts include providing food, shelter, medical care, and other essential supplies to the affected populations. The district administration has set up emergency operation centers to coordinate the relief efforts and ensure rapid response to emergencies.

Meanwhile, Vaishno Devi yatra has been stopped following the landslide and heavy rainfall. At least 20 people were injured in the landslide triggered by heavy, relentless rain, the officials said.

The pilgrimage to the shrine was suspended when the mountainside literally gave way and stones, boulders and rocks came hurtling down around 3 pm on Tuesday, catching people unawares. The landslide struck at a point about halfway along the winding 12-km trek from Katra to the shrine.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated on Wednesday that Jammu and Kashmir is still struggling with almost nonexistent communication.

"Still struggling with almost nonexistent communication. There is a trickle of data flowing on Jio mobile, but no fixed-line WiFi, no browsing, and almost no apps. Things like X open frustratingly slowly, and WhatsApp struggles with anything more than short text messages. Haven't felt this disconnected since the terrible days of 2014 & 2019," the Chief Minister said in a post on X.

Earlier on Tuesday, Omar Abdullah spoke on the phone with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to brief him about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where heavy and continuous rains have caused significant damage and disruption to normal life.

"Efforts are being made to restore phone/data connectivity as soon as possible. The closure of Jammu airport stopped me & my colleagues from reaching Jammu this evening. I hope to be able to get there on the first flight tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm closely monitoring the situation & in touch with the teams on the ground in the division," Abdullah had said in a post on X on Tuesday.

The India Meteorological Department has said that Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) Imagery indicates widespread thunderstorm activity across the Jammu region today.

"Jammu DWR Imagery at 0510 hrs of IST today, 27 August 2025, indicates widespread thunderstorm activity across the region," the IMD said in a post on X.

Severe convection, characterised by heavy rain, thunderstorms, and possible hail (reflectivity exceeding 40 dBZ), is currently occurring over Jammu, RS Pura, Samba, Akhnoor, Nagrota, Kot Bhalwal, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Purmandal, and parts of Kathua and Udhampur.

Moderate convection, indicating light to moderate rainfall (reflectivity above 20 dBZ), is affecting Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Billawar, Katra, Ramnagar, Hiranagar, Gool, Banihal, and the surrounding areas of Samba and Kathua districts.

Vertical profiles indicate that cloud tops reach up to 12 km, suggesting deep and active thunderstorms.

The system is generally moving east-northeastward, and areas in the foothills and hilly terrain may continue to experience rainfall, the IMD said.

Residents are advised to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid low-lying and waterlogged areas, and follow official advisories for safety.

(With inputs from PTI & ANI)