Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, and announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for the families of deceased residents of Uttar Pradesh.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Yogi Adityanath has also directed officials to make necessary arrangements for transporting the bodies of the deceased back to their native places.
The landslide, which struck near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari Cave Temple on the route to the shrine on Tuesday, claimed the lives of at least 30 people.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level review meeting to assess rescue and relief operations in Katra and to take stock of the flash flood situation in several districts of the Union Territory.
Sinha instructed officials to ensure the safe evacuation of people from low-lying flood-affected areas, restore essential services including power, drinking water, healthcare, and connectivity, and maintain adequate stocks of rations and medicines. He also called for immediate repair of damaged roads, bridges, and highways, while directing the preparation of hospitals to handle potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
The Lieutenant Governor further asked the Power Development Department (PDD) to coordinate with NHPC and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for urgent restoration of electricity, and urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to assist the PWD in restoring damaged road networks.
