CM Omar visits flood-hit Jammu, assures safety measures for vulnerable areas

Jammu: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited flood-affected areas of Jammu to take stock of the situation on ground. He assured residents that all necessary measures will be taken to safeguard people in vulnerable localities.

Abdullah interacted with officials overseeing relief and rescue efforts and urged swift action to ensure essential services are restored in the worst-hit areas.

Jammu and Kashmir has been reeling under incessant rainfall since Tuesday, which has triggered flash floods and landslides across the Union Territory.

At least 34 people have lost their lives so far, including 32 killed in a massive landslide on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in Reasi district. The yatra remains suspended after the mountainside gave way, sending boulders crashing onto the trek path.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 368 mm of rainfall in Jammu on Tuesday—the heaviest in years. Overflowing rivers such as the Tawi, Chenab, Jhelum, and Basantar have inundated low-lying areas, damaging houses, bridges, and key roads. In Doda district, three people were killed in flash floods, while in Kishtwar, a cloudburst washed away 10 homes and a bridge. More than a dozen paramilitary personnel are feared trapped in Kathua’s Lakhanpur village, where rescue efforts are still underway.

Authorities said over 3,500 people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas of Jammu division. Rescue and relief operations are being carried out jointly by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities.

In the Kashmir Valley, the Jhelum river has crossed the alert mark at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar after breaching the danger mark at Sangam in Anantnag, raising fears of flooding. Officials have issued advisories asking people to stay away from water bodies, while emergency helpline numbers have been activated for assistance.

The floods have also severely disrupted communication, electricity, and water supply across several districts, with the Madhopur bridge in Kathua collapsing and highways linking Jammu to the rest of the country suffering heavy damage.