Heavy Rains Disrupt Jammu Division, Cause Highway Closure

Jammu, Aug 26: The Jammu division has been witnessing moderate to heavy rains for the third day in a row, causing the suspension of vehicular traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, officials reported. All the rivers and streams are nearing or surpassing danger levels, leading to flooding of numerous low-lying areas and roadways within the city and its surroundings. In response to these hazardous conditions, traffic along the 250-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway has been halted as a precaution. Stone falls from hillocks at Chanderkote, Kela Morh, and Battery Cheshma in Ramban district prompted this decision, according to officials.

The highway, Jammu's only all-weather road connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country, saw its traffic stopped at Udhampur in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir amidst ongoing heavy downpours. In Kishtwar district, a section of the Padder road was swept away near Traith Nallah. Landslides closed the Ramnagar-Udhampur road in Udhampur and the Jangalwar-Thathri road in Doda. Additionally, reports have indicated damages to nearly a dozen homes and cowsheds in elevated areas of Kishtwar, Doda, and Rajouri districts.

The pouring rains have caused the Modhopur barrage to overflow beyond one lakh cusecs, escalating flood conditions in low-lying Ravi river areas within Kathua district. Significant surges in water levels are being recorded in the Taranah, Ujh, Maggar Khad, Sahar Khad, and Ravi rivers, alongside their tributaries in Kathua. Similarly, the Tawi river has exceeded the 20-foot danger mark in Udhampur district, though it remains below alert levels downstream in Jammu. The Chenab river is nearing warning levels in Jammu, while the Basanter River in Samba also exceeded the danger threshold of 4.5 feet this morning.

As per the meteorological department's data, Kathua district experienced the highest rainfall at 155.6 mm over the last 24 hours, ending at 8:30 am. This was followed by Bhaderwah in Doda at 99.8 mm, Jammu at 81.5 mm, and Katra at 68.8 mm. Authorities have issued advisories cautioning the public to avoid water bodies and landslide-prone zones. The weather forecast predicts ongoing moderate to heavy rains, with risks of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides persisting through August 27 in regions including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar districts.