Unrelenting rainfall has caused chaos across Jammu and Kashmir, claiming nine lives and injuring many others, with landslides, flash floods, and infrastructure damage reported across several districts. Authorities are grappling with severe disruptions, including halted pilgrimages, broken road links, and rising river levels.

One of the most tragic incidents unfolded along the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, where a landslide struck near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari around 3 PM on Tuesday. Five pilgrims died and 14 others were injured as the debris came crashing down midway along the 12-km hill trek.

According to a post by the shrine board on X, “A landslide incident has occurred near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, some injuries are feared. Rescue operations are underway along with required manpower and machinery.” Following the incident, all routes to the shrine, including the old and Himkoti paths, have been temporarily suspended.

In Doda district, rain-related tragedies led to the deaths of four more people. Two victims died when their home collapsed, while two others were swept away by a flash flood after falling into a swollen nullah. While speculation of a cloudburst circulated earlier, officials clarified that the destruction resulted from continuous heavy rainfall over the past three days.

Elsewhere, extensive flooding and multiple landslides have severely damaged infrastructure across the region. A portion of NH-244 between Doda and Kishtwar has been washed away. The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway was closed at several points, including Chanderkote, Kela Morh, and Battery Cheshma in Ramban, due to landslides and falling rocks. Heavy snowfall has also rendered the Srinagar-Leh highway via Zojila Pass impassable.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the situation during a high-level emergency meeting. Taking to X, he wrote: “The situation in many parts of Jammu province is quite serious. I’ll be taking the next available flight from Srinagar to Jammu to personally monitor the developing situation.” He further stated that additional funds have been placed at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioners to address urgent needs and begin restoration work.

“The relief and restoration works will proceed strictly as per SDRF norms. However, wherever additional requirements arise beyond these norms, I will personally ensure that further provisions are made available,” Abdullah assured during the meeting. He also emphasised prioritising assistance to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and patients.

With heavy rainfall continuing, river systems across the region have surged to dangerous levels. In Jammu, the Tawi River rose to 27 feet, exceeding its danger level by 10 feet. The Chenab River at Akhnoor also breached the warning mark at 35.6 feet, prompting evacuation advisories in nearby areas. In Pahalgam, the Sheshnag Nallah surged past its historical record to reach 6.02 feet, well beyond its danger threshold of 5.09 feet, indicating either a cloudburst or extremely heavy rainfall upstream.

Train Services Halted, Schools Shut, Network Hit

The flood-like situation has prompted network outages due to damage to optical fibre lines, while the Northern Railway cancelled 18 trains operating to and from Jammu, Udhampur, and Katra. Schools across Jammu province have been closed, and movement near hill slopes and rivers has been strongly discouraged.

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for several districts including Doda, Reasi, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Ramban, Kathua, Udhampur, Samba, and Jammu, forecasting more rain in the coming days. Meanwhile, multiple footbridges and homes were washed away in the Marmat and Gandoh regions of Doda, and large parts of Jammu city were submerged due to clogged drains and rising water levels.

In Kathua district, the Ravi River overflowed, inundating low-lying settlements. Other water bodies including Taranah, Ujh, Maggar Khad, and Sahar Khad are also nearing dangerous levels, sparking concern among local authorities.

The rainfall’s impact extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir into Punjab, where rising water levels in the Ravi and Beas rivers have led to emergency alerts in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, and SBS Nagar districts. Holiday declarations for schools have been issued across these districts, while villages in Kapurthala are witnessing evacuations as people flee rising waters using motorboats.

India Alerts Pakistan About Potential Flood Threat

In a precautionary diplomatic move, India has informed Pakistan of the potential flood threat posed by shared river systems, fulfilling a humanitarian responsibility amid worsening conditions.

Emergency control rooms and helplines have been activated in all affected districts. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), civil administration, and police are engaged in rescue operations and providing assistance to displaced residents.