Death of 35 pilgrims in Adhkuwari landslide: SHO Bhawan files ATR; matter fixed for arguments

Jammu, Nov 21: Station House Officer (SHO) Bhawan has filed an Action Taken Report (ATR), pursuant to the directions of the Sub Judge (JMIC), Katra issued on October 16, 2025, in a case related to the death of 35 pilgrims in Adhkuwari landslide incident on August 26, 2025.

The case pertained to a complaint seeking appropriate directions to the SSP Reasi and SHO Bhawan to register an FIR against the Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra and other officers and officials of the Board, who were at the helm of affairs on the date of incident i.e., August 26, 2025.

In the Action Taken Report (ATR), it has been divulged that as per the enquiry conducted so far, no cognizable offence has been established against the authority and the ongoing enquiry has not revealed any evidence implicating the authority in the commission of any such offence.

The ATR further says that the final report of the 3-member committee constituted by the Lieutenant Governor and Chairman, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board on August 29, 2025 regarding the same incident is still awaited.

The court of Sub-Judge (Judicial Magistrate 1st Class), Katra Sidhant Vaid took on record the ATR and has fixed the matter for arguments on the next date of hearing i.e., December 6, 2025.

The SHO Bhawan on the last date of hearing i.e., October 30, 2025 had sought 4-week time to submit the ATR and the court had granted 3 weeks to him.

The complaint seeking registration of FIR in the unfortunate death of 35 pilgrims has been filed by Rohit Bali- a resident of Talab Tillo, Jammu, who has claimed that the pilgrims “died because of the criminal negligence of CEO SMVDSB, Katra and other officers and officials of the Shrine Board who miserably failed to perform their lawful duties as there were advisories, red alerts already issued by Meteorological Department.”

“Despite the advisory dated August 25, 2025, the yatra was not suspended which resulted in the unfortunate death of 35 innocent pilgrims because of a landslide at Adhkuwari enroute to Bhawan of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine,” he had alleged in the complaint.

Advocate Vishal Gupta appeared on behalf of the complainant in the said matter.