Srinagar, Sept. 3 (The Chenab Times) — Torrential rains across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday caused a house collapse that killed a woman and her daughter in Rajouri district and forced closure of major highways and schools, officials said.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the incident occurred in Kangri village of Sunderbani where the roof of a house caved in. In Akhnoor, 40 residents were trapped in Garkhal village after the Chenab river flowed above the evacuation level. Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force and police were dispatched to shift them to safety.
Police in Anantnag said 25 nomadic families stranded under a bridge in Aang Anzwalla were evacuated after the Lidder Nalla overflowed. In Kulgam, authorities rescued five families from Brazloo village following a rise in the Vaishov Nalla. Emergency helplines have been activated across south Kashmir.
In Doda district, several link roads were damaged by landslides. Officials said Phagsoo, a tehsil headquarters, has remained cut off for a week after the road near Budhi Das temple at Jangalwar was washed away. The alternate route through Dragam village has a 200-meter stretch that remains incomplete, preventing full connectivity to the national highway. Residents said construction on this stretch has been pending for over five years.
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, Mughal road, Jammu-Srinagar-Leh highway, and Jammu-Kishtwar highway remained closed for the second day due to landslides and shooting stones, the Traffic Department said. Educational institutions in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions were ordered shut.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the situation and directed officials to speed up relief operations, safeguard essential services, and clear waterlogged areas, his office said on X.
Rain gauges showed heavy precipitation in several districts. Reasi recorded 203 mm of rainfall, Katra 193 mm, and Batote 157 mm. In Kashmir, Qazigund received 90.6 mm, Kokernag 89 mm, and Srinagar 46.1 mm in the past 27 hours.
The Meteorological Department warned of heavy to very heavy rain in the next 16 hours across Jammu, Kathua, Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Ramban, with risks of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides.
Meanwhile, the pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra remained suspended for the ninth consecutive day. The yatra was halted on August 26 after a landslide near Ardhkuwari killed 34 pilgrims and injured 20 others.
Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times