Flood situation in Jammu region turns grim, J&K CM reviews measures

Moderate to heavy rain lashed Jammu division for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. Rivers flowing above danger mark, inundating low-lying areas; Omar heads for Jammu to monitor situation.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the situation in various parts of Jammu is quite serious following heavy rain and directed the administration to maintain high alert.

People near the Tawi river that is in spate amid rainfall in Jammu on Tuesday. The river has crossed the 20-ft danger mark in Udhampur district, while downstream in Jammu it is flowing below the alert level, officials said. (PTI Photo)

The chief minister gave the instructions at a meeting in Srinagar to take stock of flood control measures in Jammu, his office said in a post on X.

Moderate to heavy rain lashed Jammu division for the third consecutive day on Tuesday.

Almost all rivers and streams are flowing above or close to the danger mark, submerging a number of low-lying areas and roads in the city and elsewhere.

Vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway has been suspended.

The swollen Tawi river in Jammu on Tuesday. Almost all rivers and streams are flowing above or close to the danger mark, submerging a number of low-lying areas and roads in the city and elsewhere.

“The chief minister held a meeting today in the morning to review flood mitigation measures at Jammu in view of incessant rains. He directed the officers to maintain high alert and take all necessary measures,” the chief minister’s office said.

In a separate post on his personal handle on X, Abdullah said the situation in many parts of Jammu is quite serious.

“I’ll be taking the next available flight from Srinagar to Jammu to personally monitor the developing situation,” he said.

In the meantime, the CM said, instructions have been issued to place additional funds at the disposal of the deputy commissioners to cover emergency restoration work and other exigencies.