The politics over the Vaishno Devi Yatra landslide has intensified with Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary demanding an answer from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha why the pilgrimage was not stopped despite an alert for a cloudburst and heavy rains in the area.
At least 35 people were killed after a landslide occurred on the Vaishno Devi Yatra route in Reasi district.
During an inspection of the flood-affected areas in the state, Deputy CM Choudhary said, “Regarding the Vaishno Devi Yatra incident, LG Manoj Sinha should give an answer. During the LG’s term, a stampede had also occurred earlier. When there was an alert for cloudburst and heavy rainfall, why was the Yatra not stopped?
The Jammu and Kashmir deputy CM alleged a criminal conspiracy, saying the 35 devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi did not die but they were killed.
“There is a criminal conspiracy behind this. An investigation should be done. I request PM Modi and Union HM Amit Shah to constitute a high-level committee to check the roles of LG Manoj Sinha and the officers. A strict action should be taken and an FIR should also be registered…,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also raised similar questions, asking why the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, allowed the pilgrimage to continue despite advance warnings of heavy rainfall.
CM Abdullah also criticised the “apathetic approach” of authorities, saying, “We will have to talk about it later. When we knew about the weather, should we not have taken certain steps to save those lives? The weather warning had come to us a few days ago.”
Expressing sorrow over the deaths, a frustrated Abdullah further asked, “Why were these people on the track? Why were they not stopped? Why were they not moved to a safe place?”
Most of the victims are devotees from the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Punjab.
LG Sinha has announced an ex gratia of Rs nine lakh for the family members of the deceased. In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of the victims from the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed grief over the landslide deaths and assured help from the centre.