Normal life was crippled across Jammu region on Wednesday following this season's heaviest rainfall in which two minor girls were washed away while another civilian was buried under the debris of his home in Chingus area of Rajori.
Due to incessant rains in the higher reaches of Jammu region, which continued over night, several rivers including mighty Chenab was flowing close to the danger mark.
District administration has also sounded alert in Jammu following flash floods in river Tawi. Similar is the fate of Basantar and Ujh rivers in Samba and Kathua districts. Udhampur, Ramban and Reasi districts also witnessed continuous rainfall disrupting traffic on the national highway for some time. BRO workers managed to clear the landslides and debris at several places to make way for the vehicular traffic.
BSF authorities are also maintaining tight vigil along the International border especially across water logged stretches to prevent any infiltration bid from across the border. Water boats have been deployed for round the clock patrolling in the forward areas. Several BSF posts are located in low lying areas and get submerged during rainy season affecting barbed wire fencing.
Meanwhile, helicopter services from Katra base camp to the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi remained disrupted due to bad weather conditions even as devotees were allowed to trek the 13 km long route on foot with warnings to avoid the vulnerable stretches hit by shooting stones.
In Jammu city several residential areas were flooded with water following heavy downpour. local residents staged demonstrations at several places accusing the civic authorities of not carrying out necessary desilting works and allowing rampant encroachment blocking the natural water channels.
Traffic movement remained disrupted across the city during peak hours while many areas went without power due to snapping of power lines. Government Medical College also witnessed crisis situation as it remained without power for about 12 hours. Power back up was judiciously used to run emergency and essential services including Operation theatres.
According to official sources two school going girls identified as Meenakshi (9 years) and Sakshi Sharma (7 years) were washed away in Janipur area after they lost balance and fell in a drain. Eyewitness report claimed a group of three girls were crossing the water logged street when one of them stepped back wards to make way for a private vehicle. As it was raining heavily one of the girls feel in a drain and two others lost balance. A local youth managed to drag one of the girls while the remaining two were washed away.
The densely populated street, housing the office of a leading State daily, was flooded with water due to breach in the nearby embankment of a local nullah.
State BJP Chief Satpal Sharma, also a local MlA visited the members of the aggrieved families along with senior district officials.
"A sum of `4 lakh was sanctioned for the next of kin of deceased girls", Deputy Commissioner Jammu Simrandeep Singh told reporters. Another civilian was killed in house collapse in Chingus area of Rajouri, official sources said.