Jammu Rains Break 114-Year Record: 13 Dead, Thousands Evacuated as Floods and Landslides Create Havoc

New Delhi (India) August 27: Heavy rains have devastated parts of Jammu. It requires the Indian Army to be called in for rescue efforts. Some parts of neighboring Punjab have also experienced flooding as a result of the Jammu rains.

As rain continues to hit the region for the fourth day on Wednesday, thousands of people have been shifted from the low-lying flooded areas of Jammu. Doda is one of Jammu's most severely affected districts.

In a single day, Jammu receives 380 mm of rain. It is the most the area has seen in a 24-hour period since 1910.

Social media is overflowing with images of landslides, roads being blocked, buildings collapsing, rivers exceeding the danger mark, and rescue efforts. On Wednesday, one such image captures the moment when part of a road collapsed close to Jammu's fourth Tawi bridge. It also trapped a moving SUV.

CM Omar Abdullah Briefs Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was briefed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the awful flood situation in the Jammu area. CM Omar calls the situation “quite serious”.

Abdullah posts, “Spoke to @AmitShah ji on the phone to brief him about the situation in J&K, especially Jammu province, where heavy and continuous rains have caused a lot of damage and disruption to normal life,” on his social media platform X handle.

Roads, Railways, and Internet Services Severely Disrupted

Officials report that a number of hill roads are blocked or damaged by landslides or flash floods. The traffic on the national highways connecting Jammu, Srinagar, Patna, and Kishtwar is also suspended.

The disaster causes damage to optical fibers. That is why all J&K service providers report call and mobile internet outages. It also results in the cancellation of up to 18 trains to and from Katra, Udhampur, and Jammu railway stations. Omar also orders district administrators to remain alert. He chairs an emergency meeting. Additionally, Abdullah directs the administration to prioritize help to vulnerable groups. He also calls for prompt delivery of necessities like food, water, and medication to impacted families.

During Tuesday's intense rains, a fourth bridge across the Tawi River that linked Ware House and Bhagwati Nagar also sustained damage. Some of the passengers barely made it out of their cars.

Schools Closed, Exams Postponed

In the Jammu division, all public and private schools are closed until August 27. Additionally, all of the Wednesday exams for Classes 10 and 11 are postponed by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education.

Landslides and floods are frequent during the June–September rainy season. But experts claim that climate change and insufficient development are making them more frequent, severe, and impactful.