Flood threat looms as nature’s fury strikes JK again
Water bodies cross danger mark, many areas submerged
Jammu/Srinagar: Nature’s fury has once again struck Jammu and Kashmir with the heavy rainfall claiming two more lives in Rajouri and thousands of people were rescued and evacuated to safer places as multiple areas across the region were flooded on Wednesday, amidst the rise in the water levels in all the water bodies.
The heavy rainfall has claimed the lives of a mother-daughter duo in Rajouri district.
A mother-daughter duo was killed after a wall of their house collapsed due to heavy rains in Sunderbani. The deceased have been identified as Sita Devi, wife of Rattan Lal, and her daughter Sonia Rattan Lal—residents of Tanda Kangri. The bodies were recovered by police and rescue teams.
Similarly, a man went missing at Bantalab near the Telephone Exchange in Rajinder Nagar Nallah in Jammu late Tuesday night, following which rescue teams launched operations to locate him.
Notably, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed heavy rainfall for the last three straight days.
Since early Wednesday morning, Katra recorded the highest rainfall of 106.3 mm, followed by 60.4 mm in Jammu, the details reveal. Banihal, Batote and Bhaderwah stations have recorded a precipitation of 36.0 mm, 35.8 mm and 15.0 mm, respectively.
In Kashmir, the highest rainfall since today morning was recorded at Qazigund at 29.6 mm, followed by 29.0 mm at Kokernag and 10.4 mm at Pahalgam.
Furthermore, the water bodies across Jammu and Kashmir, including the river Jhelum, swelled following the heavy rainfall.
The water bodies in the Kashmir Valley have reached alarming levels following heavy rainfall, with the Jhelum at Sangam, Pampore and Ram Munshi Bagh crossing the danger mark.
The officials said low-lying areas of Srinagar, including Khushipora Telbal, are facing inundation, causing distress among residents. The old Barzulla Srinagar bridge has been closed for traffic movement.
According to the Irrigation & Flood Control Department (I&FC), the latest readings at River Jhelum show: Sangam: 27.29 ft (danger mark: 25 ft); Pampore: 6.30 m (danger mark: 5 m); and Ram Munshi Bagh: 20.98 ft (danger mark: 21 ft).
Other readings include Asham: 10.89 ft (danger mark: 16.5 ft) and Wullar: 1576.54 m (full level: 1578 m).
Regarding tributaries, the data show: Vishow Nallah at Khudwani: 10.50 m (danger mark: 8.5 m); Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi: 5.70 m (danger mark: 5.7 m); Lidder Nallah at Batkoot: 1.38 m (danger mark: 1.65 m); and Sindh Nallah at Doderhama: 3.63 m (danger mark: 3.9 m).
Meanwhile, in Khushipora Telbal, eyewitnesses said that water levels in the area are rising, with sudden inundation of houses, lanes and the main road.
Residents rushed to move their belongings to the upper storeys. “Water entered our homes within minutes. We could do little except protect children and elderly members,” said a local.
Some parts of Mehjoor Nagar and Telbal are also waterlogged. Many households reported damage to goods stored on ground floors, while movement in the areas remains severely restricted.
In the Jammu division, the rivers like Tawi, Chenab, Basantar, Ujh, and Ravi, along with their tributaries, are flowing at or above danger levels, exacerbating flood risks in low-lying areas.
The Tawi River in Jammu was recorded at 15 feet, one foot above the danger mark, while the Chenab River in Akhnoor was flowing four feet above the evacuation level of 42 feet.
The flooding has left around 40 people trapped in a village in Akhnoor. The Border Security Force (BSF) evacuated 47 civilians from Village Fattu Kotli using two helicopters. Jammu Police carried out evacuations in Akhnoor, Khour, Belicharana, Miran Sahib, and other affected areas.
In Anantnag district, police rescued 25 nomadic families stranded under a bridge after water levels rose due to heavy rains.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Doda, Harvinder Singh, said that continuous rainfall from early yesterday morning until the evening caused significant disruption across the district. The heavy downpour resulted in extensive damage, with approximately 60 to 70 houses destroyed, around 150 severely damaged, and another 350 to 400 partially affected. In addition to residential losses, the district’s roads, schools, power infrastructure, and water supply systems suffered considerable impact. Restoration and repair work is currently underway to address these damages, he said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, said that around 2,500 people were rescued from flood-affected areas of Kulgam.
In the Mahore subdivision of Reasi district, 86 houses were affected, and 100 families were shifted to safer locations. The official said rescue teams continue operations, and food and essential supplies have been provided to all displaced families.
Amid the prevailing situation, the authorities have urged residents to follow advisories and remain alert while rescue teams continue relief operations across the region.
Meanwhile, the weatherman has predicted an improvement in the weather conditions from tomorrow, but stated that a brief spell of rain and thunder at a few places with moderate showers over a few places of Jammu division cannot be ruled out for the next few days till September 07.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said that from September 08 to 11, a spell of moderate rain is expected over a few districts of Jammu division during 8th late night and 9th morning and improvement thereafter till 11th evening.
The MeT has also issued an advisory, advising people to stay away from water bodies, Nallas, river embankments and loose structures, etc.
Nonetheless, the heavy rainfall has triggered multiple landslides and mudslides, leading to the closure of several vital roads and highways across the division.
Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed for the second consecutive day due to landslides and land subsidence at Thard in Udhampur, with additional blockages reported at Chanderkote, Kela Morh, and Battery Cheshma in Ramban.
The traffic on Jammu-Pathankot Highway also remained disturbed due to being blocked near Vijaypur in Samba district following the damage of a pillar of the Devak River bridge.
The Bani-Basohli road (blocked at Sukha Nallah), Basohli-Mabanru road (at Dhani), Mahappur-Kathua road (at Peddy Nallah), and Qiala Chak-Ramkote road (near Kali Mata Mandir in Galak) remain closed. The Mughal Road and Jammu-Kishtwar National Highway are also shut due to landslides and shooting stones.
A massive landslide has also blocked the Doda–Pul Doda road on the Batote–Kishtwar stretch following continuous rainfall in the district, and authorities have advised people to avoid travel in the affected area until clearance work is completed.
The Jammu–Rajouri road between Tanda and Kalidhar Mandir is also closed, while the 4th Tawi Bridge has collapsed amid rising river levels, suspending traffic movement.
Also, the Jammu–Rajouri–Poonch National Highway has remained closed since last night at Chowki Choura near Kandi Tunnel, leaving many vehicles stranded due to the disintegrated road surface. Officials have called for the immediate restoration of the highways to reconnect Rajouri with Jammu.
In the ongoing devastating floods in Jammu region, the troops of White Knight Corps undertook prompt rescue and relief operations in the general areas of Dhar Khour & Channi Village, Akhnoor.
The rescue columns, in coordination with civilian agencies, evacuated 80–90 civilians, including children, to safety. Among those rescued were two persons in critical condition.
In order to provide immediate assistance, two Medical Camps have been established by troops of White Knight Corps at Pallanwala & Palatan.
The medical support was extended to all evacuees, reinforcing the Indian Army’s commitment to stand by people in every crisis. (KNO)
