Heavy destruction due to rain in many states including Jammu and Kashmir, 34 killed in Vaishno Devi landslide

Jammu/Pathankot/Gurdaspur: Heavy rains and floods have caused severe devastation in many states of North India. Nature's fury in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand has completely disrupted life. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Chenab and Tawi rivers are flowing above the danger mark, while in Punjab, the floods of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers have caused massive damage. Although the reduction in rains has accelerated relief and rescue operations, the damage to infrastructure has increased the challenges.

Rain stopped in Jammu and Kashmir, but the situation is serious

Jammu and Kashmir received a record-breaking 380 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, which is the highest in a day since 1910. 629 mm of rain in Udhampur broke the 2019 record of 342 mm. The death toll in the landslide on the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra route has risen to 34. The Chenab river is still above the danger mark, while the water level of the Tawi river is gradually receding.

A BSF camp came under the grip of flood

Most of the highways and dozens of bridges in the Jammu region have been washed away, cutting off connectivity to many areas. Areas like Peerkho, Gujjarnagar, R.S. Pura, Nikki Tawi, Beli Charan, Gurkhanagar, Akhnoor and Pargal are submerged in flood water. A BSF camp in Pargal of Akhnoor came under the grip of flood. Local people rescued the soldiers by filling air in tubes, after which rescue teams evacuated the rest of the people safely through boats. The Jammu-Srinagar highway has broken at many places and there is a long jam of trucks in Ramban.

Omar Abdullah visited the affected areas

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the affected areas. While inspecting the Fourth Bridge on the Tawi river, a portion of which collapsed, he said, "This bridge had collapsed in the 2014 disaster as well. We have to learn from the past and plan for the future." The administration has shifted more than 5,000 people to safer places. The Army, NDRF and SDRF are engaged in restoring electricity, water and mobile services.

Ravi's spate wreaks havoc in Punjab

The flood waters coming from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are now wreaking havoc in Punjab. The water level of the Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers has reached dangerous levels. The situation has worsened due to the release of water from Pong, Bhakra and Ranjit Sagar dams. There are flood-like conditions in Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur. The spate of the Ravi river in Pathankot submerged the Jammu-Pathankot highway, due to which the movement of heavy vehicles was stopped.

Heavy destruction in areas built on Kathua, Punjab borderThe low-lying areas of Pathankot are flooded with knee-deep water. The administration has opened 2 relief camps and started the work of evacuating people from low-lying areas. There has been heavy destruction in the areas built on the Kathua and Punjab border. A CRPF camp and many houses in Madhopur were hit by floods. Army helicopters rescued 22 CRPF jawans and 3 civilians in a rescue operation that began at 6 am. The building from which they were evacuated sank into the river just two minutes after the rescue.

Children evacuated from school through boat

400 children, 70 teachers and staff were trapped in Navodaya Vidyalaya in Gurdaspur due to flood waters entering it. The ground floor of the school sank at 5 am. The police and administration immediately started a rescue operation through boat and evacuated everyone safely. Many villages near the Kartarpur corridor were submerged due to the breaking of the Dhusi dam in Dera Baba Nanak. Dozens of houses collapsed and thousands of acres of crops were destroyed.

Chinook and MI-17 helicopters engaged in rescue

C-130 and IL-76 aircraft are being used to deliver relief material to flood-affected areas. NDRF teams from Delhi have reached Jammu with relief material. Chinook and MI-17 helicopters are engaged in rescue operations. Due to flooding of roads, helicopters are the only means of transport.

Rail traffic halted, all routes leading to Jammu closed

All routes leading to Jammu are closed. Rail traffic is also completely halted. A passenger train between Jammu-Katra was stuck on the track for 24 hours. The track and road were damaged due to a boulder falling in front of the Swaraj Express. After 27 hours, the track was cleared and the train was sent to Katra. Northern Railways cancelled 45 trains and short terminated 25. Passengers stranded in Katra are facing the problem of lack of food and water and running out of money.