Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday visited flood-hit areas of Jammu to review the devastation caused by heavy rains, cloudbursts, and landslides. Accompanied by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Shah assessed the ground situation, beginning with an inspection at the Tawi Bridge near Bikram Chowk, where the floods severely damaged riverbanks and adjoining infrastructure.
Shah arrived in Jammu late Sunday night to monitor the worsening situation and ongoing relief operations.
Visit to Manguchak – The Worst-Hit Village
Officials confirmed that Shah will also visit Manguchak village, one of the worst-affected areas in the district. The village has witnessed widespread destruction, with many homes, fields, and roads washed away due to flash floods. His visit aims to reassure affected families and speed up rehabilitation measures.
Aerial Survey and High-Level Meetings
The Home Minister is expected to conduct an aerial survey of the flood-hit regions later in the day to assess the extent of damage. Following this, he will chair two crucial meetings at Raj Bhawan.
- The first meeting will focus on flood relief operations, reviewing ongoing rescue missions and immediate rehabilitation steps.
- The second meeting will address the damage caused to the border security grid, which has been disrupted by the flash floods.
Read also: Jammu Floods: Record Rainfall Triggers Chaos, Power Cuts, Road Closures and Mass Evacuations
Rising Death Toll Across Jammu & Kashmir
The scale of destruction has been tragic. Since August 14, over 130 people have lost their lives and 33 remain missing in incidents triggered by cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods across Kishtwar, Kathua, Reasi, and Ramban districts.
Among the deceased were 34 pilgrims who were caught in a massive landslide while en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine on August 26.
Record Rainfall Caused Massive Destruction
Meteorological reports revealed record-breaking rainfall between August 26-27, which caused severe flooding in low-lying areas of Jammu and nearby plains. Roads, bridges, and essential infrastructure suffered heavy damage, leaving several areas cut off and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Recent Visits by Senior Leaders
This is Amit Shah’s second visit to Jammu in three months. Earlier, on May 29, he visited the region after the Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on terror infrastructure across the border in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Just a few days earlier, on August 24, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Jammu to review the aftermath of flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Chisoti village, Kishtwar district. Singh’s visit to the devastated village was canceled due to bad weather and a fresh landslide in Paddar Sub-division.
The Chisoti tragedy alone claimed 65 lives, injured more than 100 people, and left 32 missing, most of them pilgrims traveling to Machail Mata shrine.
