A submerged area in Jammu's Anantnag.
- Jammu recorded 380mm rainfall in 24 hours, the highest since 1910
- Over 5,000 people evacuated from flooded areas by army and relief forces
- More than 30 deaths reported, including 32 in Katra landslide near Vaishno Devi
The rains and thunderstorm that have been ravaging Jammu for two days -- causing floods, landslides and massive damage -- appear to be gradually weakening. The water level in the region's raging rivers have dropped, but the scale of damage has been devastating, especially in areas like Peerkho and Nikki Tawi, where entire residential areas have been washed off.
The number of deaths in rain-related incidents went up to 36 on Wednesday, with most being the result of a landslide on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route. 34 people died when tons of mud and boulders hurtled down the mountainside around 3pm on Tuesday. The landslide struck at a point about halfway along the winding 12-km trek from Katra to the shrine.
The Vaishno Devi Yatra has been suspended. Hundreds of pilgrims are waiting in Katra to perform the Yatra. The shrine is one the holiest pilgrim centres in India. Around 10 million or one crore people visit the cave shrine in Trikota hills in Katra. Due to freak weather conditions, there have been multiple landslides in around the Yatra track in last two months.
This is second time in last two weeks when a Yatra was hit by cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir. Over 100 pilgrims were killed, and several are still missing after a cloudburst hit a Yatra in Kishtwar district on August 14. Before Kishtwar tragedy, there was a weather warning of rains and possible cloudburst and flash floods. But no one cared to stop the Yatra and eventually large number of people were killed.
Over the last 24 hours from Tuesday, Jammu recorded 380 mm of rainfall -- the highest since 1910, when the weather observatory was established.
The water level is on way down in Tawi river that flows through the Jammu city. The water level in Chenab, though, is yet to abate. Jhelum is still flowing over danger mark in Srinagar, Anantnag.
But the marginal respite has been enough for the rescue and relief work, which has started in full swing since morning.
The army, national and state relief forces working in tandem, evacuated more than 5,000 people from low-lying flooded areas to safety.
Schools, colleges, universities, training institutes and government offices in Jammu remain closed. Similar action has been taken in Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag in Kashmir Valley.
Mobile Internet, calling and fibre services have been restored at the G2 level by Jio and Airtel, while BSNL has asked its subscribers to switch to the G2 facility to avail these services in Jammu and Kashmir.
Train services between Jammu and Pathankot have been restored after remaining suspended on Tuesday. The fourth bridge over Tawi river has collapsed.
The met office said while the overall intensity of the storm is reducing, light to moderate thunderstorms are likely to continue in isolated pockets.
Moderate convection is still widespread over Jammu plains -- including Jammu city, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri-Reasi and adjoining hilly areas. A few localized intense spells will continue southwest of Jammu and in parts of Kathua and Udhampur.
