A Katra court has sought an action-taken report from the Reasi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and the Bhawan Station House Officer (SHO) on a complaint demanding that officials of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) be booked for alleged criminal negligence in the August landslide tragedy that killed 34 pilgrims.
The order, passed by Sub Judge Sidhant Vaid, directed the police to submit the report within two weeks.
The August 26 landslide tragedy
The landslide, triggered by a cloudburst at Adhkuwari in Reasi district on August 26, claimed 34 lives and injured 20 others as pilgrims made their way to the cave shrine.
The complainant, Rohit Bali of Jammu, accused shrine board officials, including CEO Sachin Kumar Vaishya, of failing to halt the yatra or issue advisories despite red-alert warnings for heavy rain and flash floods.
Following the incident, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had announced a three-member inquiry committee, comprising Additional Chief Secretary Shaleen Kabra, IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, and Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, to investigate the causes.
However, the panel’s findings are yet to be made public. The court will review the police’s response on October 30.
