Jammu: At least 45 students of the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) were rescued on Sunday after floodwaters submerged the ground floor of their hostel complex. The joint operation was carried out by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police, officials said.
Rescue teams used boats to evacuate the trapped students after more than seven feet of water from an overflowing canal entered the hostel. The operation lasted over five hours, with all students safely shifted.
IIIM Director Dr. Zabeer Ahmed said the institute has made alternative arrangements for their stay. Thanking police and SDRF for their timely help, he assured there was “no need to panic” as resources, including dewatering pumps, were mobilised immediately.
Students living on the ground floor reported damage to their belongings. “Those staying downstairs rushed upstairs, leaving their things behind, and we waited nearly five hours to be moved out,” said student S.R. Choudhary.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall also caused a portion of road near a temple close to Tawi bridge to cave in, while a culvert at Jammu bus stand collapsed. Overflowing streams and drains inundated several low-lying areas, damaging boundary walls and dozens of vehicles.
