Severe floods across the Jammu division over the past 24 hours have caused widespread devastation, leading to loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, and large-scale displacement. While the rainfall subsided by Thursday morning, water levels in major rivers across Kashmir only began to recede gradually.
Fatal Incidents Reported Across Jammu Division
Officials confirmed that at least three people lost their lives due to rain-related incidents. In Rajouri district, a woman and her daughter died when a portion of their house collapsed during heavy rains in Kagri village, Sunderbani. Meanwhile, in the Ban Talab area of Jammu, a Tata Mobile driver was swept away along with his vehicle in a swollen stream near a CRPF camp.
BSF and Rescue Teams Save Dozens of Lives
Rescue operations intensified as rivers breached danger levels. Border Security Force (BSF) troopers deployed helicopters to airlift 47 villagers trapped in the Chenab River at Garkhal in the Pargwal sector of Jammu. Multiple teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and police were stationed in flood-prone areas to aid evacuations and prevent further casualties.
Rivers Crossing Danger Levels
The Chenab River at Akhnoor surged 8–9 feet above the danger mark, posing a severe risk to surrounding areas. Similarly, the Tawi River approached its danger mark of 16 feet, forcing authorities to launch a multi-agency operation to strengthen embankments near the damaged fourth Tawi bridge. Other rivers, including Ravi, Ujh, Basantar, Devak, and Tarnah, also reached flood levels, intensifying the crisis.
Major Infrastructure Damage in Jammu Division
Heavy rains and flooding inflicted extensive damage to essential infrastructure:
- Roads: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Batote-Doda-Kishtwar, Mughal Road, and several other arterial routes remained closed due to massive landslides.
- Electricity and Water Supply: Power cuts and disruption in water supply were reported in several localities.
- Urban Flooding: Floodwaters entered homes and shops across Kabir Nagar, Talab Tiloo, Bathindi, Channi, Nanak Nagar, Canal Road, Janipur, Paloura, and other areas, causing severe property damage.
Several localities in Jammu city remained waterlogged for hours, paralyzing traffic and leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on highways.
Jammu Cut Off from Key Routes
Jammu city faced near-complete isolation after landslides and mudslides blocked major connecting roads:
- Panjtirthi-Sidhra road (landslide)
- Manda-Nagrota road (mudslide)
- Chenab bridge at Akhnoor (closure due to rising waters)
These blockages left commuters stranded, while emergency services struggled to access affected neighborhoods.
Preventive Evacuations in Kashmir Valley
In south Kashmir districts such as Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, and Srinagar, authorities evacuated residents from flood-affected areas. Relief shelters were set up, but many locals chose to move in with relatives at safer locations.
To ensure public safety, all schools, colleges, and universities across Jammu & Kashmir were ordered closed on Thursday.
Weather Forecast Brings Hope
The Meteorological Department (MeT) issued a positive update, predicting an improvement in weather conditions from Thursday onward. With no new rainfall recorded in the Kashmir Valley during the past 24 hours, officials confirmed that water levels in rivers and streams have started receding.
The Jammu and Kashmir floods highlight the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, robust infrastructure, and effective early warning systems. While rescue operations saved many lives, the scale of destruction—from collapsed homes to blocked highways—underlines the vulnerability of the region to extreme weather events.
As conditions stabilize and water levels recede, authorities must focus on rehabilitation, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and creating long-term flood management strategies to safeguard communities against future disasters.
