Saturday, March 29, 2025
Flood Fury in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh: 9 Dead, Widespread Destruction
Continuous heavy rainfall over the past several days has wreaked havoc across Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, triggering flash floods, landslides, and widespread damage to infrastructure. Official figures confirm at least nine deaths, though the toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.
Deaths and Flooding: In Doda district, a cloudburst caused the Tawi River to swell dangerously, claiming four lives. Near Ardhkuwari on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route, a massive landslide killed five devotees and left 14 others injured, forcing authorities to suspend the pilgrimage.
Roads and Transport Disrupted: Torrential rains caused a section of road near the Tawi River bridge in Jammu to collapse, sweeping away several vehicles. Key highways, including the Jammu-Srinagar and Batote-Kishtwar routes, are blocked. Rail services have also taken a major hit, with 18 trains to Jammu cancelled, including the New Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express.
Government Response: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting to review the crisis and placed officials on high alert. District Commissioners have been allocated additional funds for relief operations. The administration has urged people to stay indoors and released an emergency helpline number: 9596776203.
Beas River Rampage: In Kullu and Manali, the swollen Beas River inundated over 20 houses, shops, and restaurants, causing massive property loss. A section of the Kullu-Manali road was washed away, cutting off Manali from the district headquarters.
Landslides: In Shimla district, landslides struck the Kotkhai-Kukunala stretch of National Highway 22, damaging several vehicles and shops.
The weather disruption has also hit education and recruitment:
All schools across the Jammu Division will remain closed until August 27.
The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education has postponed Class 10 and 11 examinations.
The ongoing BSF constable recruitment drive has been rescheduled to September 3 due to unsafe conditions.
