Heavy overnight rainfall wreaked havoc across Jammu and Kashmir, leaving behind a trail of destruction and severely disrupting normal life in several districts. Low-lying areas were submerged, houses and vehicles were damaged, and key bridges collapsed under the force of gushing waters. The downpour was particularly devastating in Kathua district, where the overflowing Sahar Khad stream swept away part of a bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway, snapping connectivity on this crucial route. Authorities immediately stopped traffic on both bridges across the stream and diverted vehicles through an alternate route to prevent further mishaps.
Deputy Commissioner of Kathua Rajesh Sharma confirmed that one of the bridges had suffered extensive damage, while the other also showed signs of vulnerability. Cautioning the public against taking unnecessary risks, he said, “This is continuous rain. There is no need for foolishness or adventurism. Jumping onto a damaged structure is not bravery, and I would strongly urge people not to do that.” Revenue officials were also dispatched to examine reports of damage at other bridges, including the one at Nagri, as teams of engineers from the highway authority rushed to assess the situation.
The scale of the downpour was historic. Jammu city recorded 190.4 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am, making it the second-highest August rainfall in the last century. The highest still remains 228.6 mm, recorded on August 5, 1926, while the previous second-highest was 189.6 mm on August 11, 2022. The excessive rainfall triggered widespread flooding in parts of Jammu city, with water entering homes in Janipur, Roop Nagar, Talab Tilloo, Jewel Chowk, New Plot, and Sanjay Nagar. Several boundary walls collapsed, while nearly a dozen vehicles were swept away in flash floods, leaving residents in panic.
Authorities quickly issued advisories urging people to remain indoors, stay away from rivers and streams, and avoid landslide-prone areas. The meteorological department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall until August 27, warning of possible flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides in higher reaches. Disaster response teams, along with the police, were put on high alert to tackle emergencies, while evacuation measures were prepared in the most vulnerable zones.
Despite the intensity of the rain, the 250-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway and the 434-km Srinagar-Leh highway remained operational. However, landslides led to the closure of the Mughal Road, cutting off Poonch and Rajouri from Shopian, while the Sinthan Road connecting Kishtwar and Doda with Anantnag was also shut down. In Kathua, the Ujh and Ravi rivers rose to dangerous levels, while the Basantar in Samba, Chenab in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Jammu, and the Tawi in Udhampur and Jammu swelled rapidly, raising fears of further flooding.
Officials reported no immediate casualties, though several roads in Rajouri, Poonch, and Gurez in north Kashmir were blocked by landslides, leaving residents stranded. Meanwhile, rainfall records across the region highlighted the severity of the weather. Udhampur recorded the second-highest rainfall at 144.2 mm, followed by Katra at 115 mm, Samba at 109 mm, and Kathua at 90.2 mm. Srinagar, in contrast, received a comparatively lighter spell at 13.5 mm.
The relentless rains have not only exposed the fragility of infrastructure across the region but also left thousands of residents facing uncertainty as they brace for more wet days ahead. Authorities remain on alert, balancing immediate relief efforts with preparations for potential worsening of the situation if the forecasted heavy rains continue.
