Jammu-Srinagar highway closed; Rajouri adminstration issues flood advisory amid heavy rainfall
Traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended Monday, August 3, evening as heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu and Kashmir including the border district of Rajouri, where the administration has issued an advisory urging people inhabiting flood-prone areas to remain alert.
A stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH-44) in Samroli area of Udhampur district became very muddy and slippery due to incessant rainfall, prompting suspension of traffic movement on both carriageways around 5 pm, a traffic police official said.
The official said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has rushed personnel and machinery to the affected site and restoration works are underway to make the highway motorable at the earliest.
The closure of the key highway, the only 'all-weather' road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, left hundreds of vehicles stranded on both ends, officials said.
The traffic police have advised commuters to avoid travelling on NH-44 until the road is declared safe for vehicular movement.
In Rajouri, a temporary house suffered extensive damage in a mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall at Shahpur village in Kotranka area, officials said, adding that occupants of the house escaped unhurt.
Heavy rain lashed most parts of Rajouri since Monday afternoon, prompting the district administration to issue an advisory for residents living in flood-prone areas, urging them to remain alert in view of the prevailing conditions and the possibility of a sudden rise in water levels in rivers and streams.
Vulnerable areas identified by the administration include the vicinity of the CEO office, Naban Mohalla (riverbank houses), Tariq Bridge area, MLA Housing Colony, low-lying areas of Nowshera town, Bela area of Nowshera and adjoining residential localities, and other habitations situated along riverbanks and flood channels.
Additional vulnerable areas include Peeri, Koteranka, Darhal and downstream villages of Rajouri and Nowshera.
The administration has advised residents of these areas to voluntarily shift elderly persons, children, pregnant women, persons with disabilities and essential belongings to safer locations without waiting for water levels to rise.
Citizens have also been asked to remain prepared for evacuation at short notice and cooperate with police, State Disaster Response Force, civil defence, revenue and other emergency response teams, according to the advisory.
People have been cautioned against venturing near rivers, nallahs, bridges or flood channels.
Vehicle owners have been advised to remove vehicles from low-lying areas and avoid unnecessary travel, officials said.
Any incidents of flooding, landslides, embankment breaches or stranded persons should be reported immediately to the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC), Rajouri, which is functioning round-the-clock.
The district administration said it is monitoring the situation and appealed to the public not to panic, avoid spreading rumours and rely only on official advisories.
Heavy rain was also reported in Ramban, Reasi and Poonch districts but there were no reports of any damage or imminent flood threats, officials said.
The weather office has forecast heavy rainfall and brief intense showers in few districts of Jammu division till Tuesday.
"Torrential rain and brief intense heavy showers may generate flash floods and landslides at vulnerable places during the next five days," a meteorological department spokesperson said.
