Jammu, Feb 28: Torrential rains wreaked havoc across the Jammu region for the third consecutive day on Friday, resulting in tragic fatalities and multiple rescue operations. A woman and her son lost their lives, and at least 12 others were saved from swollen rivers as heavy rainfall and snowfall severely impacted daily life and disrupted road connectivity.
Early Friday morning, tragedy struck near Moungari in Jammu's Udhampur district when a boulder fell from a hillock, hitting a two-wheeler. The victims were identified as 50-year-old Shano Devi and her 25-year-old son, Raghu, who were killed instantly.
Meanwhile, rapid response from police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams led to the rescue of 11 non-migrant labourers stranded near a construction site adjoining the Ujh river in the Rajbagh area of Kathua district. Authorities highlighted that the rising water levels had posed a significant risk to their lives due to persistent rains.
Another daring rescue operation unfolded in Jammu’s Niki Tawi area around 5:40 am on Friday, where Mohan Lal, a dumper driver and resident of Gole-Gujral, became trapped when his vehicle got submerged in the overflowing river Tawi. The joint efforts of police and SDRF successfully brought him to safety.
Severe weather conditions also caused extensive disruption to road networks, notably forcing the closure of the vital 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Officials confirmed the suspension of traffic from Thursday evening, citing accumulation of heavy snow between Ramsoo and Qazigund, along with frequent incidents of stone shootings, landslides, and mudslides between Nashri and Banihal. Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded along the route, causing inconvenience to commuters.
Additionally, the Batote-Doda road was closed due to landslides at Ragi Nallah. Other important routes, including Bhaderwah-Chamba, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Road, remained shut following substantial snowfall in higher-altitude areas.
The authorities continue monitoring the situation closely, advising residents and travelers to exercise caution amid ongoing weather disruptions.
