Incessant rains and cloudbursts have caused flooding in several settlements in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Indian-administered Kashmir, as well as Kathua and Doda in Jammu region, while in Budgam, Kulgam and other areas of the Kashmir Valley, several houses and other structures have been swept away by flash floods, according to officials, while 25 people, including women and children, have died so far. On Wednesday, the government issued a fresh alert and directed the public to avoid going near rivers and streams.
The summer vacations in educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir have also been extended by a week. Heavy rains have suspended traffic on the main highway connecting Kashmir to the rest of India, while the annual Amarnath Yatra of Hindus, which continues from late June to late August, has been temporarily suspended.
Meanwhile, hundreds of locals have been shifted to safer places.
Due to the torrential and continuous rains that started on Saturday night, rivers and local drains in the hilly areas of Pir Panjal have overflowed. The Meteorological Department had already issued an alert of the risk of heavy rains and flash floods in the region, after which the situation became more serious on Sunday morning.
According to local officials, the water level in the Darhali river, which passes through the center of Rajouri city, rose above the danger mark on Saturday night. The flood relay broke the protective embankment near Bela Colony, as a result of which flood water entered the New Bus Stand and nearby residential areas.
Due to this sudden relay, dozens of vehicles parked at the bus stand were swept away or submerged in water. In addition, the slums and residential houses around Abdullah Bridge and Tariq Bridge were also severely damaged. The police and the district administration took emergency action and shifted more than 50 families to safer places.
The floods have affected not only Rajouri city but also remote rural areas like Thanh Mandi, Darhal and Manjakot, where extensive financial and infrastructure damage has been caused. Incidents of mud house collapse and landslides have also been reported at several places, due to which several important connectivity roads including the Rajouri-Poonch National Highway have been blocked.
The local administration and police are monitoring the situation through emergency control rooms, however, the forecast of more rains by the Meteorological Department in the next few days has increased the concern of the public and the authorities.
Meanwhile, a shopping complex comprising a dozen shops and private offices in Berowa tehsil of Budgam district of the Kashmir Valley collapsed due to the flood wave. However, due to timely action by the police, no one was injured as the people in the building were shifted to a safe place before the flood hit.
The local Meteorological Department has also issued a flood alert, predicting more rains in the next three days.
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