Flood Alert Across Jammu Division as Rivers Swell; Army Rescues Stranded Civilians in Kathua
Jammu: Authorities across several districts of Jammu division have issued flood advisories as continuous heavy rainfall caused water levels in major rivers, including the Tawi, Chenab and Ujh, to rise sharply, prompting rescue operations, evacuations and intensified search efforts for missing persons. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Police and district administrations in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Reasi and Udhampur urged residents to stay away from rivers and other water bodies as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast adverse weather to continue through July 23. Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), led by Deputy SP Lalit Kumar, carried out awareness campaigns along the banks of the Tawi River, making public announcements advising people to avoid unnecessary travel, remain indoors where possible and move to safer locations if living in vulnerable low-lying areas.
Heavy rain also caused widespread waterlogging in Jammu city, disrupting normal traffic. Officials said the Ujh River at Panjtirthi in Kathua crossed the evacuation level on Tuesday afternoon and continued to rise, increasing concerns in flood-prone areas. In Kathua district, flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall washed away the road connecting Chak Gota after Maggar Khad overflowed, angering residents who said the same stretch had been damaged in last year’s floods. Meanwhile, the Indian Army’s Rising Star Corps launched a swift rescue operation after receiving a request from the civil administration. Soldiers established rope lines across flooded stretches along the Bhini River and Choi Khad, successfully rescuing civilians stranded by strong currents.
In Reasi, rising inflows into the Chenab River forced authorities to open all gates of the Salal Dam to regulate reservoir levels. Residents, particularly those in low-lying areas, were advised to stay away from the swollen river and other water bodies.
The worst-hit districts, Rajouri and Poonch, continue to battle the aftermath of flash floods and landslides. Rescue teams comprising the NDRF, SDRF, J&K Police, the Indian Army and local volunteers intensified search operations for nine missing persons—eight in Poonch and one in Rajouri. Authorities reported that 14 people have died in Poonch and three in Rajouri due to rain-related incidents. Police also recovered two mutilated body parts from debris in Poonch and collected DNA samples to determine whether they belonged to recent victims or had been displaced from a nearby graveyard. [Greater Kashmir]
In Rajouri, search teams continued efforts to locate Abdul Ghani, an employee of the Jal Shakti Department who was swept away while working at a pumping station. In Poonch, another person was injured after a house collapsed amid heavy rainfall and remains under treatment in hospital. Continuous rainfall has hampered rescue operations and delayed the restoration of essential services in the twin districts.
A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir ministers, including Javed Rana and Satish Sharma, visited flood-hit areas and relief camps in Rajouri to review the situation. Satish Sharma said the government was committed to assisting affected families and restoring basic services, adding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would chair a high-level review meeting on Wednesday to assess the flood situation and relief measures. Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad also visited affected villages in Poonch and reviewed ongoing relief operations.
Traffic on the Poonch National Highway was temporarily disrupted after a massive landslide at Sheindhara blocked the road. Police supervised clearance operations, and traffic resumed after nearly three hours. Meanwhile, the IMD has warned of very heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir, with continued risks of flash floods, landslides and overflowing rivers over the coming days. I can also monitor the flood situation and notify you if there are major developments or changes in casualty figures. Want me to set that up?
