UP mourns 11 dead in Vaishno Devi landslide; state govt offers Rs 4 lakh compensation

A landslide on the sacred Vaishno Devi shrine route turned a pilgrimage of faith into a nightmare, killing 11 pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh and injuring several others.

The tragedy, which struck on August 26 amid heavy rains and flooding, has devastated families in Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly, Agra, and Lucknow.

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Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami confirmed the deaths and announced that the bereaved families would receive Rs 4 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

He said the Uttar Pradesh government is coordinating with the Jammu & Kashmir administration, though the complete list of victims is still being finalised.

Among the dead is 24-year-old Chandni from Baghpat, who had been married just four months ago. She and her husband, Mayank, were on their first trip to Vaishno Devi. While Chandni perished, Mayank is critically injured and undergoing treatment in Jammu. Chandni’s sister Neera also lost her life.

The tragedy also claimed 21-year-old cricketer Kartik Kashyap from Muzaffarnagar, remembered by many as a budding talent. His parents, sister, and cousin were injured in the disaster.

In Bareilly, another victim named Neera died, while Anant and Dipesh, sons of Ajay Kumar from Muzaffarnagar, were also among the casualties. A young woman named Anjali was confirmed dead, though her native place could not be traced.

One of the worst-hit families was from Agra, where three members died and one remains missing. Deepak, a resident of Agra, had set out with nine relatives for his daughter Angel’s mundan ceremony and Vaishno Devi darshan. The family boarded a train on August 24, only to be caught in the deadly landslide two days later. Deepak’s mother, Sunita (50); sister-in-law Bhavana (11); and two-year-old daughter Angel lost their lives. Deepak’s father, Arjun Singh, remains missing, while his wife Mona’s leg had to be amputated, and her condition is reported to be critical. Deepak’s younger daughter, Sejal, sister Jasmine, and brother-in-law Mohit were injured but were stable. All the injured are being treated in Katra, Jammu.

In total, seven people injured in the disaster are under treatment, including Sangeeta, Umang, Kamlesh, Vaishnavi, Poorvi, Goran (Lucknow), and Mayank (Lucknow). Doctors say their conditions are being closely monitored.

For many families, the loss has been unbearable. A newlywed bride, a budding cricketer, children with their lives ahead of them, and an Agra family that set out for a sacred ritual—all swept away in a disaster that struck without warning.

The Vaishno Devi landslide has once again underlined the dangers of monsoon travel along the shrine’s treacherous mountain routes. But beyond the statistics, it has left behind stories of heartbreak and resilience, as survivors fight for life and grieving families cling to memories of their loved ones.