Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday evening briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Jammu region, where incessant rains have caused widespread damage and disruption to normal life.
The Chief Minister informed that efforts were being made to restore phone and data connectivity at the earliest, as infrastructure damage had led to communication breakdowns.
“The closure of Jammu airport prevented me and my colleagues from reaching Jammu this evening. I hope to get there on the first available flight tomorrow,” Abdullah told the Home Minister. “In the meantime, I am closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with teams on the ground,” he added.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Abdullah wrote on X: “Very sorry to hear about the deaths of the pilgrims on the Mata Vaishno Devi track. I send my condolences to the families of the deceased. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace.”
Meanwhile, along with the Army, personnel of the 6th Battalion CRPF swiftly launched rescue operations at Vaishno Devi, evacuating the injured to CHC Katra. Troopers also assisted stranded pilgrims in moving to safer locations.
“All necessary medical and logistical support has been provided by our teams. The rescue operation is still underway,” a CRPF spokesperson said