Severe weather conditions in Jammu & Kashmir have caused havoc due to relentless heavy rains. On Wednesday, a catastrophic landslide on the popular Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route led to at least 31 casualties and injured 23 individuals. The landslide has transformed major sections of the temple path on Trikuta hills into rubble. Rescue operations are in full swing as fears persist that more people might be trapped underneath.
The continuous downpour has resulted in widespread floods and landslides across the region. Infrastructure has been severely damaged, with bridges collapsing and extensive damage to power lines and mobile networks. In a span of six hours, from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM, 22 centimeters of rainfall was recorded in Jammu alone. After midnight, rainfall reduced, providing some respite to the district.
As a precaution, over 3,500 individuals have been evacuated to safer regions due to flooding and waterlogging as of Tuesday. Relief efforts are conducted by joint teams, including district administration, JK Police, NDRF, SDRF, the Indian Army, and local volunteers. Necessary provisions such as food, clean water, and medical assistance are being distributed in temporary shelters to those affected.
Source: aajtak
A telecommunication blackout has occurred in multiple parts of the union territory, isolating millions from communication. The administration is primarily focused on relocating people from high-risk zones to safer areas.
Further Reading: Catastrophic Conditions in Jammu & Kashmir! Vaishno Devi Journey Halted, Bridges Collapsed, Army Engaged in Rescue
Storms and Torrential Rain in Jammu and Surrounding Areas
Currently, Jammu and its nearby regions are experiencing severe storms and heavy rainfall. The most affected areas include Jammu city, R.S. Pura, Samba, Akhnoor, Nagrota, Kot Bhalwal, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Purmandal, Kathua, and Udhampur. Light rain is continuing in Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Billawar, Katra, Ramnagar, Hiranagar, Gool, and Banihal.
Source: aajtak
Meteorologists note clouds reaching heights of 12 kilometers, a sign of highly active storms. The system is moving east-northeast, and precipitation is expected to continue in hilly and plain areas.
Further Reading:
22 Trains Cancelled and 27 Short-Terminated
Heavy rainfall has led Northern Railway to cancel 22 trains on Wednesday while 27 have been short-terminated. Services originating from Katra, Jammu, and Udhampur have been heavily disrupted, including nine trains from the Vaishno Devi base camp. Due to flooding in the Chakki River, the rail route between Pathankot and Kandror (Himachal Pradesh) has been halted. However, the Katra-Srinagar route remains operational.
