Jammu: The situation is grim in J&K as heavy rains have unleashed devastation in the Jammu region of the Union Territory, triggering floods, cloudbursts, landslides and mudslides that have claimed at least 34 lives and damaged key infrastructure, while severing rail, road, air and digital connectivity with the rest of the country.
Jammu recorded the highest ever rainfall in August in 24 hours at 380.0 mms, according to MeT official. The continuous and incessant rainfall has triggered massive landslides and flash floods.
SSP Reasi Paramvir Singh said that 30 people were killed in the massive landslide that was triggered by the heavy and incessant rain, which hit near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari cave temple, which is located en route to the Vaishno Devi shrine. Authorities had immediately launched the rescue operation to evacuate those trapped in the area.
According to Governor Manoj Sinha, over 5000 people were evacuated from low-lying flooded areas to safety.
The Jammu region has been lashed by heavy rains over the past few days, and the MeT department has forecast intermittent light to moderate showers across many areas of Jammu and parts of south and central Kashmir today, with brief cloudy intervals in between.
It has also forecast a brief spell of rain/thunder at a few places on August 28 and 29.
“From August 30- September 1, there is possibility of moderate to heavy rain, thunder showers in Jammu region,” a MeT official said.
Heavy rains were also experienced in Kashmir valley overnight where the main Jhelum river has crossed the flood-alert mark of 21 feet at Sangam in the Anantnag district and Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar on Wednesday.
All mobile and internet connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir has remained disrupted since yesterday afternoon.
GoI Minister Jitendra Singh said restoring electricity, water supply and mobile connectivity—“almost non-existent” in many parts—remains the top priority. He confirmed severe damage to the Madhopur bridge, where television footage showed vehicles collapsing with the structure.
In neighbouring Punjab, villages in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala and Tarn Taran are inundated as the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers flow above danger marks. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered schools shut till August 30 and cancelled all government staff leave.
Himachal Pradesh has reported 12 flash floods, two landslides and a cloudburst since Monday. At least two people have died. Pakistan’s Punjab province is also facing a flood threat after India released excess dam water, displacing more than 150,000 people, officials said.
