Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Aug 27 (KINS): Relentless rainfall over the past several days has thrown Jammu and Kashmir into chaos, triggering flash floods, landslides, and large-scale destruction across the Union Territory.
The calamity has already claimed dozens of lives, with one of the worst tragedies unfolding in Katra, where a massive landslide near the revered Vaishno Devi shrine killed at least 36 pilgrims.
The continuous downpour has caused major rivers — Jhelum, Chenab, Tawi, Ravi, Ujh and Basanter — to swell dangerously above the danger mark, sparking fears of another flood disaster.
Officials confirmed that the Jhelum has already crossed the flood-alert level at Sangam in Anantnag, while water levels in Srinagar are also rising steadily.
Authorities told news agency Kashmir Indepth News service (KINS) that thousands of people have been evacuated to safer shelters, particularly from villages close to riverbanks and hilly belts prone to landslides.
Road connectivity has been badly hit.
The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, the Valley’s vital lifeline, was blocked by repeated landslides, while several bridges and roads in Jammu and Kashmir over the past few days have suffered heavy damage.
The government Wednesday ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and universities across J&K on Thursday to ensure the safety of students.
Public utilities have also been crippled. Electricity and drinking water supplies stand disrupted in several districts, adding to the hardships of people. Emergency teams, including Police, SDRF, and Army personnel, have been pressed into service for large-scale rescue and relief operations. District administrations have activated emergency helpline numbers to respond swiftly to distress calls.
“We are working round the clock to ensure people’s safety. Evacuation from vulnerable areas is underway, and all agencies are on high alert,” an official said.
He said that the LG and the Chief Minister were monitoring the situation and had ordered a high alert across all departments.
Residents have been advised to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and remain cautious of waterlogging, fallen trees, and landslide-prone zones. Officials have also urged people in vulnerable areas to follow safety advisories strictly to prevent further loss of life.
The fresh spell of devastation comes just weeks after a deadly cloudburst in Kishtwar claimed over 65 lives, underlining the fragile balance of life in the disaster-prone Himalayan region.
While rescue operations continued the Vaishno Devi route, in Jammu city and surroundings where several bridges and other infrastructure collapsed, the wider Kashmir Valley had slipped into silence as a near-total communication collapse struck late Tuesday afternoon.
Persistent rains and flooding triggered landslides at multiple points, damaging telecom infrastructure and leaving both government and private networks paralysed. Mobile services, landlines, and internet connectivity remain severely disrupted till Wednesday afternoon. (KINS)
