Jammu, Aug. 28 -- Despite weather alerts forecasting very heavy rain with possibilities of cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides, three back to back rain related incidents that so far have claimed 138 lives that include 131 pilgrims within a span of just 12 days in Kishtwar, Kathua and Reasi districts have raised serious questions about the delay of the J&K administration in allowing the trek on the old route.

Heavy rains for the past one week have wreaked havoc in Jammu division causing cloudbursts, flash floods, swelling rivers, inundation of low lying areas, landslides in mountainous areas and damaging infrastructure like bridges and roads.

"When meteorological department had been regularly issuing weather forecasts on hourly basi...