Srinagar, Jul 25: The death toll from the recent spell of heavy rains and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 27 on Saturday after a woman was killed in a house collapse in Rajouri district, while moderate to heavy rainfall continued across the Union Territory, triggering fresh landslides, disrupting traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and keeping authorities on high alert.
Officials said a residential kitchen collapsed in Bhatian village of Thanamandi in Rajouri district amid incessant rainfall, leaving one woman dead and two others injured.
The deceased was identified as Shahida Parveen, wife of Abdul Rehman. She sustained critical injuries after being trapped under the debris and later succumbed.
The injured, identified as Abdul Rehman, son of Fauz Ullah, and his son Tofeeq Rehman, were rescued by locals and rescue teams and shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Rajouri, for treatment. Their condition is stated to be under observation. Shahida’s body was handed over to her family after legal formalities.
With the latest fatality, the death toll from rain-related incidents, including flash floods, across Jammu and Kashmir has climbed to 27, while several people are still reported missing.
Rains lash Kashmir
Moderate to heavy rainfall lashed the Kashmir valley and higher reaches from Saturday morning, while several parts of the Jammu region also received fresh showers. However, officials said the water level in the Tawi River has started receding.
Director of the Meteorological Department (MeT), Mukhtar Ahmad, told Rising Kashmir that widespread rainfall was recorded across both plains and higher reaches of the valley.
“We are expecting some improvement in the weather during the evening. However, overall weather conditions will remain wet for the rest of this month,” he said.
Ahmad said light rain is likely to continue on July 26 and 27.
“Another major wet spell is expected between July 28 and 31. During this period, the valley will also receive moderate to heavy rainfall, but Jammu division is likely to be affected more severely,” he said.
He said the highest rainfall recorded on Saturday was around 12 mm.
The MeT Department has issued a warning for heavy rainfall and brief intense showers in a few districts of Jammu division between July 28 and 31. It has also cautioned about the possibility of flash floods, landslides and mudslides at vulnerable locations over the next five days.
The department has advised the general public, tourists, travellers and transporters to follow administrative advisories and avoid travelling through landslide-prone areas during adverse weather.
Jhelum water level receding
Despite moderate to heavy rainfall in parts of the valley, the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department said water levels across the Jhelum basin continued to recede on Saturday.
Chief Engineer, I&FC Kashmir, Showkat Hussain, told Rising Kashmir that there was no cause for panic.
“Water has receded significantly today. Despite today’s rainfall, there has been no major impact on water bodies. We have witnessed a decline in water levels at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh, and the situation is returning to normal,” he said.
According to the department’s latest update, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a gradual decrease in rainfall over South Kashmir, with precipitation expected to shift towards Central and North Kashmir.
NH-44 closed again
A day after the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was partially reopened, the highway was shut again on Saturday afternoon due to fresh landslides and shooting stones triggered by continuous rainfall.
A Traffic Police official said vehicular movement was suspended after multiple vulnerable stretches witnessed fresh mudslides and shooting stones.
“Traffic has been stopped on the highway. More than 500 vehicles are stranded between Jakhani and Samroli. Landslides and shooting stones are hampering restoration work,” the official said.
Authorities have advised commuters to avoid undertaking travel on the highway until weather conditions improve and the road is declared safe for traffic.
The Mughal Road, the strategic highway connecting the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian in South Kashmir was closed for traffic on Saturday following multiple landslides, officials said.
