At least 30 people died in a landslide triggered by heavy rains near the popular Vaishno Devi shrine in India’s Jammu, local media reported on Wednesday.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the closure of all educational institutions and offices, except for essential services and law and order departments, due to heavy rain, which was recorded at 368 mm (14.5 inches) on Tuesday.

The Meteorological Department has forecast very heavy rainfall in the Jammu region over the next 40 hours, with water levels of the Basantar, Tawi, and Chenab Rivers currently at the alert mark. Widespread and intense thunderstorm activity is also expected across Ladakh.

Television images showed vehicles falling into a big hole after a bridge collapsed on the Tawi river, while some highways linking Jammu to the rest of India were also damaged. Jammu and Kashmir province’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said communication was almost non-existent for the first time since 2019 as the situation was “quite serious.”

He said he would visit the site to monitor the overall situation including rescue and repair operations.

People have been strongly advised to stay away from riverbanks and flood-prone areas. People in hilly, mountainous and low-areas have been asked to stay indoors.

It was the latest havoc from downpours in the Himalayan region that have killed 60 people, with 200 missing in Kishtwar in Indian Kashmir last week.

Authorities also ordered the closure of educational institutions in Jammu, which weather officials said was deluged with 368 mm (14.5 inches) of rain on Tuesday.

India's neighbour and archfoe Pakistan has also grappled with monsoon rains in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, Pakistan said its sprawling eastern province of Punjab faced a "very high to exceptionally high" danger of flooding from a combination of heavy rains and India's decision to release waters from two dams.