Heavy rains lash Jammu region, schools shut
Jammu: Heavy rain lashed various districts of the Jammu region, triggering flash floods that damaged four structures and led to the closure of some inter-district roads, officials said on Tuesday.
Authorities in Rajouri, Reasi and Poonch districts have ordered the closure of all schools in view of the adverse weather conditions.
Significant rainfall was recorded between 8.30 am on Monday and 6.30 am on Tuesday, meteorological department officials said.
Reasi recorded the highest rainfall at 284 mm, followed by 204 mm in Katra, 166 mm in Udhampur, 199 mm in Kathua, 102 mm in Samba and 96 mm in Jammu.
The rain triggered flash floods, landslides and mudslides in various places. No casualties have been reported, the officials said.
Portions of two houses on the banks of the Tawi river in the Beli Charana area were washed away by the flash floods, promoting police to warn people living along the river bank to not go near it.
Several temporary structures for housing animals were vacated in the Nikki Tawi area.
Part of a school in the Surankote area of Poonch district was severely damaged after the flash floods struck during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, according to the officials.
The flash floods swept away a 200-ft-long shed adjacent to the school and a sports room, destroying all records and sports items. There were no casualties in the incident, the officials said.
In Rajouri’s Jaglanoo village, a cowshed collapsed, causing loss of livestock. The rain also caused multiple road blockages across the district, disrupting vehicular movement in several areas, they said.
The Kotranka-Khawas road has been closed at Kanja, while the Rajouri-Thanamandi-Surankote road remains cut-off following a landslide between DKG and Bufliyaz.
The Ghambir Mughlan-Thanamandi road is also blocked at several points, including Bhattian Morh and adjoining stretches, due to debris.
The Jammu-Srinagar highway also experienced traffic jams at Jagti as the road was inundated.
The authorities also shut down the Udhampur-Samba road following landslides at several places, the officials said.
Five to six buffaloes, two cows were washed away in the flash floods in Kathua, they said.
In Reasi, a landslide at Kandamorh in Pouni tehsil blocked the road on Tuesday morning. Efforts are being made to clear the blockade, they added.
Continuous rainfall since Monday night has led to a rise in water levels of rivers and streams in Jammu and Kashmir.
The authorities have issued an alert, urging people to stay away from water bodies.
The swollen Chenab river in Reasi washed away a crucial road patch at Gupt Kashi.
To manage the rising water levels, the gates of the Salal Dam have been opened for controlled water discharge downstream, the officials said.
Poonch Deputy Commissioner Ashok Sharma, who is supervising the government efforts to tackle the flood situation, said the administration is fully prepared to tackle the situation.
The meteorological department has forecast rain and thunderstorms across many parts of the Jammu division from August 12 to 15, with chances of heavy rain at some places. It advised residents to stay alert and follow weather advisories.
