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Jammu/Pathankot/Gurdaspur: Heavy rains and floods have caused severe destruction in many states of North India. Nature’s fury has completely disrupted life in Jammu (Jammu ) and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Chenab and Tawi rivers are flowing above the danger mark in Jammu and Kashmir, while the floods of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers in Punjab have caused massive damage. Although the reduction in rain has accelerated relief and rescue operations, the damage to infrastructure has increased the challenges.
Rain stopped in Jammu and Kashmir, but the situation is serious
Jammu and Kashmir received a record-breaking 380 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, which is the highest in a day since 1910. The 629 mm rainfall in Udhampur broke the record of 342 mm in 2019. The death toll in the landslide on the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra route has risen to 34. The Chenab river is still above the danger mark, while the water level of the Tawi river is gradually decreasing.
A BSF camp came under the grip of floods
Most of the highways and dozens of bridges in the Jammu region have been washed away, cutting off connectivity to many areas. Areas like Peerkho, Gujjarnagar, R.S. Pura, Nikki Tawi, Beli Charan, Gurkhanagar, Akhnoor and Pargal are submerged in flood waters. A BSF camp in Pargal, Akhnoor came under the grip of floods. Locals rescued the soldiers by filling air in the tubes, after which the rescue teams evacuated the rest of the people safely through boats. The Jammu-Srinagar highway has broken down at many places and there is a long jam of trucks in Ramban.
Omar Abdullah visits affected areas
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the affected areas. Taking stock of the Fourth Bridge on the Tawi river, a part of which collapsed, he said, ‘The same bridge had collapsed in the 2014 disaster. We have to learn from the past and plan for the future.’ The administration has shifted more than 5,000 people to safer places. The Army, NDRF and SDRF are engaged in restoring electricity, water and mobile services.
Ravi’s spate wreaks havoc in Punjab
The flood water coming from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh is now wreaking havoc in Punjab. The water level of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers has reached dangerous levels. The situation has worsened due to the release of water from Pong, Bhakra and Ranjit Sagar dams. There are flood-like conditions in Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur. The flood of the Ravi river in Pathankot submerged the Jammu-Pathankot highway, due to which the movement of heavy vehicles was stopped.
Massive destruction in areas on the Kathua, Punjab border
The low-lying areas of Pathankot are flooded with knee-deep water. The administration has opened 2 relief camps and started the work of evacuating people from low-lying areas. There has been massive destruction in the areas on the Kathua and Punjab border. A CRPF camp and many houses in Madhopur were hit by the flood. Army helicopters rescued 22 CRPF jawans and 3 civilians in the rescue operation that started at 6 am. The building from which they were evacuated sank into the river just two minutes after the rescue.
Children evacuated from school through boat
400 children, 70 teachers and staff were trapped in Navodaya Vidyalaya in Gurdaspur due to flood water entering it. The ground floor of the school submerged at 5 am. The police and administration immediately started the rescue operation through boat and evacuated everyone safely. Due to the breaking of the Dhusi dam in Dera Baba Nanak, many villages near the Kartarpur corridor were submerged. Dozens of houses collapsed and thousands of acres of crops were destroyed.
Chinook and MI-17 helicopters engaged in rescue
C-130 and IL-76 aircraft are being used to deliver relief material in flood-affected areas. NDRF teams from Delhi have reached Jammu with relief material. Chinook and MI-17 helicopters are engaged in rescue operations. Due to the flooding of roads, helicopters are the only support.
Rail traffic halted, all routes to Jammu closed
All routes to Jammu are closed. Rail traffic is also completely halted. A passenger train between Jammu-Katra was stuck on the track for 24 hours. The track and road were damaged due to a boulder falling in front of the Swaraj Express. After 27 hours, the track was cleared and the train was sent to Katra. Northern Railway canceled 45 trains and short terminated 25. Passengers stranded in Katra are facing problems of food shortage and running out of money.
