STATE TIMES NEWS
- Jammu records 190.4 mm rainfall in 24 hours
- CM puts all departments on high alert
- Schools to remain closed across Jammu today
- IIIM-J students evacuated after floodwaters inundate hostel
- SDRF teams conduct Disaster Management Ops across Jammu
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Heavy rains battered most parts of Jammu and Kashmir overnight, triggering flood-like situation in several low-lying areas and causing damage to a vital bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway, officials said.
Jammu recorded 190.4 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am, the second-highest downpour this month in a century. The highest rainfall for August remains 228.6 mm, logged on August 5, 1926 while the previous second-highest was 189.6 mm on August 11, 2022.
Authorities have issued advisories asking people to stay away from water bodies and landslide-prone areas amid a weather forecast predicting moderate to intense rainfall with possibility of cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides in high altitude areas till August 27.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed all concerned departments to remain on high alert in view of heavy rains across Jammu and Kashmir, which have caused waterlogging in several residential areas and led to rivers and nallahs flowing above the danger mark.
The Chief Minister has emphasized close coordination among departments, ensuring that control rooms remain fully functional and responsive.
The Chief Minister’s Office is in constant touch with the line departments to monitor the evolving situation.
He said that special priority is being given to clearing waterlogged areas, restoring drainage systems, and ensuring the immediate resumption of essential services including drinking water supply and electricity in the affected regions.
The Chief Minister has appealed to the public to remain cautious and cooperate with the administration as necessary safety and relief measures are being taken.
All government and private schools will remain closed in Jammu division on Monday owing to bad weather conditions, while Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) announced postponement of class 10 and 11 examinations.
“In view of the inclement and bad weather conditions, it is hereby ordered that all government as well as private schools in the Jammu Division shall remain closed tomorrow (August 25),” Directorate of School Education, Jammu said.
In a notification, JKBOSE announced the postponement of annual (Private)/Bi-annual 2025 examination of Secondary School Examination (Class 10th) and Higher Secondary Part-1st (Class 11th) scheduled to be held on Monday.
It said the decision to postpone the examination was taken in view of severe inclement weather prevailing across the region.
“New dates for the postponed exams will be notified separately,” the JKBOSE said.
In Jammu, at least 45 students of the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) were evacuated to safety in a joint operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police after floodwaters submerged the ground floor of the hostel complex, officials said.
SDRF and police deployed manpower equipped with boats to reach out the students after more than seven feet of water from the overflowing canal entered their hostel buildings this morning, the officials said.
They said the rescue operation continued for more than five hours and all the trapped students were evacuated to safety.
Director IIIM, an autonomous body under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr Zabeer Ahmed said the institute has made arrangements for the safe stay of the students.
Normal life was disrupted in Jammu city because of the heavy downpour which led to overflowing of streams and drains, leading to inundation of roads and flood waters entering homes at several places, including Janipur, Roop Nagar, Talab Tilloo, Jewel chowk, New Plot and Sanjay Nagar.
Boundary walls of several houses were also damaged, while nearly a dozen vehicles were swept away in the flash floods, the officials said.
A portion of a road adjacent to a temple near Tawi bridge caved in, while a culvert on the exit gate of Jammu bus stand also collapsed owing to the heavy rainfall.
The overflowing streams and drains aggravated the situation in low-lying areas where the flood waters entered home, damaging boundary walls at several places and dozens of vehicles.
An official of the traffic department said the strategic 250-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway and 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway is open for traffic despite heavy rains, while the Mughal road connecting Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu with south Kashmir’s Shopian and Sinthan road linking Kishtwar and Doda districts in Jammu with south Kashmir’s Anantnag were closed owing to landslides at different places.
A bridge near Logate Morh on Jammu-Pathankot highway was damaged in the middle due to overflowing of Sahar Khad nallah following heavy rains in Kathua district, the officials said, adding the traffic on the highway was diverted through the alternate bridge.
Officials said water levels in major rivers and streams, including Basantar in Samba, Ujh and Ravi in Kathua, Chenab in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Jammu and Tawi in Udhampur and Jammu rose sharply, prompting the administration to put disaster response teams and local police on alert.
So far, there have been no immediate reports of casualties, but the rains have triggered landslides at several places in Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region and Gurez in north Kashmir, the officials said.
In Jammu region, Udhampur recorded the second highest 144.2 mm of rainfall followed by Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, at 115 mm and Samba (109.0 mm) and Kathua (90.2 mm).
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been conducting extensive disaster management operations in various areas of Jammu, following heavy rains that led to water logging and disruption of normal life.
The SDRF teams, equipped with specialized equipment and trained personnel, have been working tirelessly to rescue stranded people in affected areas.
During the rescue operations SDRF teams have rescued numerous people trapped in waterlogged areas, including homes, roads and other Residential Facilities in and around Jammu city.
SDRF personnel under the supervision of DSP SDRF 2nd Bn Jammu Dinesh Gupta rescued about 45 students trapped in IIM Hostel using inflatable boats and life saving jackets.
SDRF teams have been deployed in different areas of Jammu, including areas of Tawi River at different locations including Talab Tillo, Lower Bakshi Nagar etc.
Teams have also been working in coordination with local authorities, including the district administration, police, and other agencies.
Commandant SDRF 2nd Bn. Jammu (SSP) Zahid Naseem Manhas, while talking to the media persons said “The SDRF teams are committed to support those affected by the heavy rains. We are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the people in the affected areas.”
In the wake of incessant heavy rainfall causing waterlogging and damage in several parts of the city, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Jammu (JMC) Dr. Devansh Yadav carried out a comprehensive inspection of the affected regions to assess the situation and ensure immediate redressal measures.
The Commissioner visited several low-lying and rain-affected areas including Gangyal, Digiana, Gandhinagar, Kalika Colony, Bahu Fort, Janipur, Roopnagar, Chinor, Bantalab, Talab Tillo, Bhagwati Nagar and other vulnerable localities that faced the brunt of heavy rains. During the visit, Dr. Yadav interacted with local residents, listened to their grievances and assured them that all possible measures were being initiated to mitigate the situation.
Dr. Yadav instructed the Engineering, Transport and Sanitation wings of JMC to undertake immediate restoration work on a war footing. He directed the teams to expedite the drainage of accumulated water, deploy additional manpower and necessary machinery including suction pumps and dewatering units to clear stagnant water and inspect drainage channels, storm-water lines and culverts to identify blockages and remove debris obstructing water flow. He further directed the officers to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of flood-prone zones to avoid further damage and inconvenience to the residents.
Dr. Yadav appealed to the residents of Jammu to exercise utmost caution during this spell of heavy rainfall. He urged citizens to refrain from visiting low-lying areas unnecessarily, stay away from overflowing rivers and drains and avoid dumping waste into drainage systems, which aggravates waterlogging.
The Commissioner reiterated JMC’s commitment to provide continuous support and relief to the affected areas in coordination with other line departments and the district administration. He stated that additional teams have been kept on high alert to respond promptly to any emergency and helplines are active to receive public complaints. Dr. Yadav also emphasized the importance of long-term preventive measures, stating that the corporation is working on strengthening the city’s drainage infrastructure and implementing sustainable solutions to minimize the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation has urged to all residents to cooperate with the ongoing efforts, stay vigilant and report at these helpline numbers (9419027458, 9469300005, 9419156769) in case of any emergency or rush to the nearest JMC office for prompt assistance.
District Magistrate Samba Ayushi Sudan undertook an extensive tour of the rain-affected areas in the district, including Bedheri, Manohar Gopala, Mananu and Chak Manga to take firsthand stock of the situation arising out of incessant rainfall.
During the visit, the District Magistrate personally interacted with the local residents, patiently listening to their grievances and concerns. She assured the people that district administration stands firmly with them in this hour of difficulty and that every possible measure is being taken to mitigate their hardships.
The DM directed the officers of line departments to immediately initiate damage assessment of houses, crops and public infrastructure, and to prioritize restoration of essential services in the affected habitations. She stressed upon prompt coordination between Revenue, PWD, PHE, Power and Rural Development Departments to ensure swift redressal of issues being faced by the public.
Sudan also visited the Community Hall, Samba, where several families displaced due to the rains have been temporarily accommodated. She reviewed the relief arrangements including food, drinking water, bedding, medical aid, sanitation facilities and issued on-the-spot directions for ensuring that all basic needs of the affected families are met without delay.
Highlighting the importance of preparedness, the District Magistrate emphasized that disaster response is not only about immediate relief but also about long-term resilience. She asked officials to keep close vigil on vulnerable locations, maintain readiness of machinery and ensure public advisories are disseminated widely to avoid any untoward incidents.
The summer capital Srinagar recorded 13.5 mm of rainfall, the officials said.