Jammu, Aug 25: There is no immediate reprieve vis-à-vis extreme weather conditions in sight for the Jammu division, already reeling under the impact of devastation caused by incessant rains in the past week or so.
Nine out of 10 districts of the division will continue to face severe weather conditions like rain-induced cloudburst, flash floods, land-slides, in the backdrop of a “very heavy rain alert” till August 27, 2025.
As per the weather advisory issued on Monday up to August 27, J&K Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (JKUTDMA) has alerted against the “possibility of heavy to very heavy rain at many places of district Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar in the next 40 hours.”
With the caution to ‘stay alert’, it has also forewarned about the “possibility of cloudburst, flash floods and landslides with waterlogging at vulnerable places.”
Meanwhile, a day after it suffered extensive damage, traffic was restored on the Sahar Khad nullah bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway on Monday.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma, while responding to related queries of Greater Kashmir, said, “Traffic was restored on the bridge after testing and necessary treatment today. Regarding other damaged roads, though restoration works have been initiated yet incessant rains are hampering the process.”
With regard to the assessment of damages and the distribution of relief, Sharma said that the process was underway. “We had completed an earlier assessment, as in the previous spell, 150 houses were damaged. But now a fresh assessment of damages will be made. The process will be completed only after improvement in weather,” he added.
In Jammu, the Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, DC Jammu Rakesh Minhas, and JMC Commissioner Devansh Yadav have stated that a comprehensive plan will be framed for proper channelisation and drainage systems, especially in flood-flow areas, to avoid recurrence of disasters witnessed by the district in Sunday’s torrential rains.
The Divisional Commissioner also conveyed that a meeting of all concerned sectoral officers would be convened on Tuesday, and nodal officers would be deputed for assessment and restoration works at the earliest, so that a comprehensive report could be prepared and submitted to the government regarding the losses and damages suffered by residents.
He further assured that restoration of road connectivity, drinking water supply, and electricity would be completed within 48 hours, and suitable compensation and preventive measures would be ensured at the highest level.
They gave these assurances to a delegation of the BJP MLAs, who met them today to take stock of the relief process.
However, reports of rain-induced losses continued to pour in on Monday.
Traffic movement was severely affected after the landslide hit the Ballinala area of Udhampur on Sunday evening, and huge mounds of debris fell on a petrol pump. People also faced inconvenience as the Samba-Kathua road washed away in heavy rains on Sunday, thus rendering six villages totally disconnected.
Though restoration works have been initiated yet continual rains are hampering the process.
In the wake of adverse weather forecasts, the district authorities have issued advisories for the general public, the government departments, and field functionaries asking them to remain alert and in ready-mode.
DC Kathua has issued a flash flood warning through an advisory. “Keeping in view the ongoing recent heavy rainfall in the district and as per the communication received from the Executive Engineer RSD HQ-cum-Emergency Planning Manager, office of Chief Engineer Dams, there are strong possibilities of regulated discharge of water from the dam at any time, which may result in a sudden rise of water level in the downstream areas of river Ravi and its tributaries,” he stated in the advisory.
“Accordingly, in the interest of public safety, all residents living in low-lying areas along River Ravi, Ujh Nallah, and other adjoining tributaries are advised to remain alert and avoid venturing close to riverbanks,” DC warned.
Police in Jourian villages Sitaraala and Bandwal along the river Chenab, while warning that the water level (in Chenab) can rise anytime, have asked the people to stay in their houses.
Similar advisories have been issued in almost all districts of the Division, asking the people to exercise utmost caution in view of the prevailing inclement weather conditions and recent incidents of flash floods and cloud-bursts at several places.
“Refrain from venturing in or around rivers, streams, or nullahs until there is improvement in weather,” the advisories, issued by district administrations, said.
In a related development, District Magistrate cum chairman, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Chamba in Himachal Pradesh Monday suspended the Mani Mahesh yatra with immediate effect until further orders in the wake of continuous heavy rainfall triggering landslides, road blockages and related hazards in different areas in the district and further rain alert for the next few days by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
In this connection, DM Chamba Mukesh Repaswal has requested the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of Doda, Kishtwar, and Jammu to immediately issue necessary advisories and instructions within their respective districts to restrict the movement of yatris towards the Mani Mahesh pilgrimage until further orders.
Last week, Mani Mahesh Yatra was flagged off from the district of Doda to Chamba.
