Nine rescued from swollen Tawi; mudslides block NH for 3 hours

J&K Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Wednesday rescued nine people who were trapped in the Tawi river that witnessed increased water levels due to rain that took place in the region early in the day.

Heavy rain also disrupted traffic along the Jammu-Srinagar NH in Ramban district for at least three hours. A couple of vehicles were also washed away due to the overflowing of a stream in Rajouri district.

Madan Lal (52), a labourer, had gone for sand extraction in the Tawi around 8.45 am but got trapped due to sudden rise in the water level near Jewel chowk bridge in the city.

After remaining trapped for around two hours, he was rescued by SDRF personnel who dropped a ladder from the Tawi bridge and managed to pull him out, an official informed.

Eight more people, including some who had gone for a ritual near the river, were rescued in a joint operation by police, traffic cops, SDRF and local volunteers. The rescuers also brought out some wild horses who were trapped in the swollen river.

A Traffic Department spokesman said mudslides triggered by rain blocked the Jammu-Srinagar NH at Mehad and T2 tunnel in Ramban area around 6.30 am, forcing suspension of traffic from both sides.

However, the traffic resumed after the road-clearance agencies concerned removed the debris within three hours, he said.

The officials said an overflowing stream caused a flood-like situation in Kheora, Lower Jawahar Nagar and Thudi in Rajouri town and a couple of vehicles parked on the banks of the stream also got washed away.

(With agency inputs)