Ignoring weather alerts led to Vaishno Devi tragedy: Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Surinder Choudhary, on Thursday accused Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of lapses that led to the death of 34 pilgrims at the Vaishno Devi shrine on Tuesday after a landslide.

Choudhary alleged that the L-G, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, had ignored weather warnings of flash floods and heavy rainfall in the region. The Deputy CM, while touring flood-affected areas of Jammu city, spoke to the media and urged the Centre to order a high-level inquiry into the incident.

“The L-G should be answerable for the incident in which people were killed in the landslide. Even during a stampede in 2022 pilgrims were killed. This is the second time such a tragedy has taken place. When there was a warning of inclement weather for one week, then why was the yatra not suspended?” Choudhary said. He added that similar negligence had occurred in Kishtwar earlier this month, where dozens of people were killed in flash floods on August 14.

Pointing out that the Shrine Board is chaired by the L-G and not the J&K Government, Choudhary questioned, “What were you (LG) doing when Jammu was witnessing floods and rains? You were present in UP or Bihar when people here were facing the fury of nature. You would have just given a call and suspended the yatra.”

The Deputy CM called for accountability, “A high-level committee should be constituted by the Union Home Minister to examine the role of the L-G and also officials who manage the yatra. Whoever is responsible for the negligence should be acted against.”