Srinagar: Continuous heavy rainfall has been witnessed in several parts of Jammu & Kashmir, with rivers swelling and flash flood-like conditions reported across multiple districts.
In Rajouri, incessant downpours have led to flood-like conditions, forcing authorities to remain on high alert. Meanwhile, in Doda’s Bhalesa and Bhaderwah areas, torrential rains continued for the second consecutive day, triggering flood-like conditions.
Amid incessant rainfall, the Tawi River is in full spate, while in Srinagar, the Jhelum River’s water level rose significantly.
Similarly, the Chenab river crossed the danger mark at Akhnoor area of Jammu division on Wednesday after incessant rainfall, inundating a temple and cutting off several villages in the region, officials said..
An official said that many houses in Kotli village were flooded as the river overflowed, while in Hamirpur the water entered the residential areas, severing road connectivity and leaving the village completely cut off.
Between 8:30 am on Tuesday and 5:30 am on Wednesday, several regions in Jammu & Kashmir witnessed significant rainfall. The highest was recorded in Reasi at 203 mm, followed closely by Katra at 193 mm, Batote at 157.3 mm, Doda at 114 mm, and Baderwah at 96.2 mm. Jammu city itself received 81 mm, while other stations such as Banihal (95 mm), Ramban (82 mm), Kokernag (68.2 mm), and Pahalgam (55 mm) also saw heavy rainfall.
Moreover, rainfall was also reported in Srinagar (32 mm), Samba (48 mm), Kishtwar (50 mm), Rajouri (57.4 mm), Srinagar (32 mm) and Qazigund (68 mm) during the same period. Fresh data up to 6:45 am on September 3 showed extremely heavy rainfall in Jammu & Kashmir’s Reasi at 230.5 mm.
In light of continuous rainfall and rising water levels in various rivers across Jammu and Kashmir, the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department has issued an urgent directive for all officers assigned flood duties to report to their posts immediately.
Meanwhile, amid heavy rainfall in several Indian states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert warnings for several districts across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest & eastern Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
According to IMD, districts under red alert in Jammu & Kashmir include Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar. In Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawashahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur are under red alert; while in Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan are under similar warnings. Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar are also under the same warning.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation arising out of the incessant rains lashing Jammu and Kashmir.
The CM directed the administration to intensify its ground response, ensure immediate clearance of waterlogged areas, safeguard essential services, carry out timely evacuations in critical zones, and provide prompt relief to affected people.
