JAMMU, JULY 22: Four days of relentless downpour have thrown Jammu and Kashmir into a crisis, with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) pulling out over a hundred stranded people—including 33 on Wednesday alone—even as the death toll from rain-related tragedies mounted to 30.
In Poonch’s Surankote area, a cloudburst triggered a nightmarish scenario, with SDRF personnel and the Army’s Romeo Force sifting through sludge and debris in a desperate search for the missing.
“We first went to the Mada side in the morning and recovered bodies. Upon receiving information about this location, we came here,” SDRF ASI Zakir Hussain told Kashmir Convener, his team battling unforgiving conditions. “Operations are on a war footing. We are making a collective effort to recover as many bodies as possible. The terrain is challenging, but we cannot afford to stop,” he added.
In Rajouri, troops of the White Knight Corps, coordinating with SDRF, rescued 11 civilians—among them five children—after a flash flood trapped them near a flooded nullah at Churung village in Thanamandi.
“The swift response and seamless coordination ensured the safe rescue of all those stranded,” an Army official said. “Our troops worked in tandem with the SDRF teams to evacuate the civilians, including young children, to safer ground.”
In Jammu, police and SDRF teams launched twin operations—pulling out four persons from the Tawi river near Peer Kho temple after a sudden swell, and rescuing two youths from the swirling currents at Suhanjina.
“All persons were safely rescued without injuries,” a police official confirmed. “The water levels rose unexpectedly, but our teams were deployed immediately and managed to bring everyone ashore.”
One of the rescued youths, still shaken, recounted his ordeal to Kashmir Convener: “The water was rising by the minute. We had almost given up hope. Then we saw the SDRF team wading through the current towards us. They threw us a rope and pulled us to safety. It felt like a second chance at life.”
Another survivor, a middle-aged man rescued from the Tawi, said: “I have lived near this river for 40 years, but I have never seen it swell so fast. The SDRF boys didn’t think twice before jumping in. They are real heroes.”
SDRF Commandant Mohd Aslam said the force remains on high alert. “Our personnel are trained to operate under extreme conditions. When lives are at stake, we cannot afford to hesitate. Every second counts in these operations,” he asserted. “We have deployed additional teams in vulnerable districts and are coordinating closely with the Army and civil administration.”
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed as landslides blocked the thoroughfare at nearly a dozen places between Udhampur and Banihal, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. Commuters have been advised to avoid travel.
“We have been stuck here for over 12 hours with children and elderly family members. There is no food or water,” said a distressed traveller stranded near Ramban, speaking to Kashmir Convener. “The authorities are saying the road will open soon, but we have no clear timeline.”
Schools across the Kashmir Valley have been ordered shut till July 26, while the Amarnath Yatra remains temporarily suspended.
An official from the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board said: “The safety of pilgrims is our top priority. The yatra will resume only after the weather improves and the route is deemed safe for passage.”
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, reviewing the situation, said the administration is fully engaged in relief operations.
“I have instructed all departments to work around the clock in close coordination to manage rescue, relief, and restoration efforts. Our main focus is reopening key roads and restoring power and water supplies,” Sinha told The Indian Express. “The Centre has assured all possible support. We are in constant touch with the Union Home Ministry and additional resources are being mobilised.”
He added: “I urge the people to remain calm and cooperate with the administration. We are doing everything possible to minimise the loss of life and property.”
The MeT office has predicted more rainfall, with authorities urging citizens to stay away from rivers, nallahs, and landslide-prone zones.
“More heavy showers are expected over the next 24 hours. People should avoid venturing near water bodies and hilly slopes,” a MeT official warned. “Those living in low-lying areas should move to safer locations as a precautionary measure.”
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