3 dead, 12 rescued as snow, flashfloods disrupt life in J&K

Heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir has disrupted surface connectivity across many areas, with flashfloods and landslides exacerbating the situation. On Friday, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) successfully rescued 11 workers from a construction company after a flashflood hit the Ujh River in Kathua district, as continuous rains lashed the Jammu region.

Two people were killed when a boulder from a hillock struck their two-wheeler near Moungari in Udhampur district. The victims included a 50-year-old woman and her 25-year-old son. In another incident, a 14-year-old was swept away in Reasi on Thursday.

In a separate rescue operation, Jammu police were alerted at 5:40 am about a dumper driver stranded in Nikki Tawi area, where the vehicle was submerged in water due to a sudden flash flood. The driver had been desperately standing atop the vehicle’s roof and the police successfully rescued him.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH) saw heavy snowfall between Ramsoo and Qazigund, with shooting stones and landslides occurring between Nashri and the Navyug Tunnel. Other key roads, including Sinthan and Mughal roads connecting the Valley, were also closed due to snow accumulation. Multiple sections of the Jammu-Srinagar NH were blocked due to rain and snow and cracks appeared in several parts of this vital road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country. Restoration work continued through the evening.

Traffic on the Jammu-Katra stretch of the NH was suspended due to major cracks, with traffic to the Vaishno Devi shrine diverted through the Panthal road. Meanwhile, the J&K Board of School Education postponed examinations for Class 10, 11 and 12, scheduled for March 1 and 3, in ‘hard zone’ areas of J&K and Ladakh, with new dates issued for these exams.

Snow clearance operations are ongoing in the mountainous districts of Jammu, including Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Reasi. Authorities have advised residents and travellers to avoid unnecessary travel due to the haz-ardous conditions created by

heavy snowfall, slippery roads and ongoing rains.

In Ladakh, snow has severely affected surface traffic. The UT administration has issued warnings, urging people to stay away from avalanche-prone areas. Imtiaz Kacho, the Administrator of the Municipal Committee in Kargil, visited various areas to oversee snow clearance efforts.