L-G Sinha sets up 3-member panel to inquire into recent landslide on Vaishno Devi route

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered the constitution of a committee to inquire into the landslide incident in which 34 people were killed near Vaishno Devi shrine on August 26.

The Lt Governor, who also is the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), ordered the formation of a three-member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, to inquire into the reasons behind landslide incident near Adhkuwari.

Besides Kabra, the committee will have Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, and Inspector General of Police, BS Tuti, as its members.

The committee will examine in detail the causes and reasons behind the incident and point out any lapses, assess responses in the form to rescue and relief measures undertaken and suggest appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and measures for preventing recurrence of such incidents in future.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within two week time to the Board chairman.

The SMVDSB got a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sachin Kumar Vaishya, a few weeks ago.

Surprisingly, an inquiry into a stampede at the Vaishno Devi shrine on January 1, 2022, in which 12 people were killed, has so far not been made public. The Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, was the CEO of the shrine at that time.