Rajouri:
Incessant hours of torrential rain triggered a devastating flash flood in Jammu’s Rajouri district early on Sunday, sending rivers into a frenzy and inundating large parts of the border town.
Within minutes, the overflowing rivers overflowed their banks, flooding low-lying areas and leaving a trail of destruction. The new bus stop lay in ruins, with dozens of cars swept away by the raging currents and many others left underwater. Unfortunately, the body of a missing woman was also found.
All the major rivers in the area – Darkhali, Khandli, Sukto and Jamola – were in flood and flowing dangerously close to or above the danger mark. The flooding turned streets into torrents of water and forced hundreds of residents to flee to safety.
Most affected areas
The Darkhali River has breached a flood defense wall near Bela Colony, sending a wave of water crashing into a new bus stand. Dozens of cars parked there were either washed away or left in the murky water.
The slum settlement near Abdullah Bridge bore the brunt as floodwaters forced more than 48 families to evacuate their homes.
Communities near the Tariq Bridge were also flooded, prompting police to respond to multiple distress calls and help residents evacuate to higher ground.
Rescue and assistance continue
Rescue and humanitarian teams, with the support of the local administration, worked throughout the night to evacuate the affected families. The police control room was deployed to respond to any situation on the ground.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he has been monitoring the situation in Rajouri city and surrounding areas since the wee hours of Sunday.
In a statement, Abdullah said he is in touch with local MLAs and that protecting lives remains the administration’s top priority.
He assured that the government will provide all possible assistance to families affected by heavy rains and flash floods.
Weather warning
The Meteorological Department has issued an advisory calling for moderate to heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir until July 23. Authorities urged people to remain vigilant and set up control rooms to monitor the situation.