29 rescued in Kathua district of J&K following flash floods

Jammu, September 24

Twenty-nine people stranded in Kathua district after flash floods and heavy rain were rescued on Monday, officials said.

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was also restored on Monday a day after it was closed due to landslides at different places, they said.

“A total of 29 people, including six women and 10 children, were rescued from various flood-hit areas of Kathua district during overnight operations,” a police officer said.

They were rescued from the Nagri, Chabbe Chak and Jakhole and Billawar areas of the district by police and state disaster response force personnel. Bovines are also being moved to safety, the officials said.

Rescue and police teams had been deployed at various areas following the flash floods triggered by incessant rain in different rivers of Kathua district, they said.

In Doda district, authorities had ordered the closure of all educational institutes as a precautionary measure and also set up control rooms in view of heavy rain in the Jammu region for the past two days, the officials said.

“Police are on high alert to meet any exigency due to floods. Police teams are deployed at vulnerable points and helpline numbers have been opened,” the officer said.

With improvement in weather, authorities on Monday morning opened the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway for traffic.

“The road was cleared on Sunday night and light motor vehicles were allowed to move on the highway from Srinagar and Jammu on Monday morning,” a traffic department spokesman said.

Multiple landslides and shooting stones from a hillock along the highway between Ramban and Udhampur districts blocked the arterial road on Sunday morning.

The road was cleared by the road maintenance agency concerned and made traffic-worthy, the spokesman said.

He said the vehicles stranded at Mansar, Manwal, Flata, Sangoor, Jakheni and Udhampur had been allowed to proceed.

In Doda, officials said district authorities announced closure of all educational institutes in view of heavy rain that triggered floods in Neeru stream and various rivulets.

The local administration has also directed people to remain indoors and not venture near water bodies or slopes.     

“People residing near banks of the Neeru and its tributaries have been advised to be careful and avoid crossing temporary bridges or crossings over the streams,” the officials said.

On Saturday, the metrological department had predicted moderate to heavy rain or thundershowers for the next 48 hours at most places in the Jammu region. PTI