JAMMU / SRINAGAR, Aug 7 (Agencies): A 60-year-old woman died after several structures collapsed due to heavy rains in the Jammu region, severely disrupting life on Wednesday, officials reported.
Kako Devi was buried alive along with her two cows when her mud-house collapsed in Gundha village of Khawas in Rajouri district early in the morning. Rescuers recovered her body from the debris.
In Kathua district, a cloudburst washed away at least 12 residential structures in Doonga village, though no casualties were reported.
Heavy rain lashed Jammu for over three hours starting at 9:30 am, causing significant waterlogging in low-lying areas and disrupting daily life. Main city roads experienced slow traffic movement, with areas like Dogra Chowk, Canal Road, Bikram Chowk, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Gorkha Colony, and Sanjay Nagar being particularly affected. Many residents and shopkeepers faced inundation.
The downpour also led to a rise in water levels in the Tawi and other water bodies, though there was no immediate flood threat.
Social media users criticized the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for inadequate drainage maintenance. PK Ganju wrote on X, “To save Jammu City and its inhabitants from the onslaught of heavy rains, floods, choked nallahs, storm drains, and an ailing sewage system, LG Sahib and his high command bureaucracy are requested to take remedial steps.” Another user, Yogesh, highlighted the issue of unplanned drainage, stating, “Rains is not a problem but the unplanned drainage is, where each nook and corner is covered with concrete leaving no space for water to flow, resulting in it occupying roads and streets. No one clear drainage in Jammu. JMC focuses on garbage collection but not cleaning drains.”
According to the Meteorological Department, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 31.1°C and a minimum of 21.6°C. The ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir saw a high of 21.0°C and a low of 13.6°C. Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a maximum of 27.8°C and a minimum of 17.2°C. Kokernag recorded temperatures of 30.9°C (max) and 18.6°C (min), while Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded 32.8°C (max) and 18.6°C (min).
Director of the Meteorological Department, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, reported that Rajouri district recorded the highest rainfall at 74 mm in the past 24 hours, followed by Jammu at 48.5 mm and Ramban at 17.5 mm. He forecasted brief spells of rain and thundershowers at scattered places from August 8-9, with a possibility of flash floods, landslides, and shooting stones in vulnerable areas of J&K.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been closed after a truck overturned at Mompassi between Ramban and Banihal. Traffic police advised commuters to maintain patience and cooperate, contacting the Traffic Control Unit (TCU) Ramban for updates. If the highway is restored, LMVs and passenger/private cars will be allowed from both sides, while HMVs will be permitted on alternate days.
Traffic on the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road and the Mughal road will be allowed from both sides, subject to fair weather and road conditions, with specific timing restrictions.