JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation caused by heavy rains and flooding in the Jammu region, expressing gratitude for the Prime Minister’s assurance of continued support for the people of the Union Territory.
Relentless rainfall on Tuesday battered large parts of Jammu, triggering landslides, inundating low-lying areas, and washing away roads and bridges. A landslide on the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine claimed 32 lives, while four others died in separate rain-related incidents in Doda district.
“I spoke to the Prime Minister recently and briefed him about the situation. I thank him for the deployment of NDRF teams. He has assured me that the central government will provide full support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah told reporters.
The Chief Minister, who made a rapid visit to flood-affected areas, shared on X that he updated the Prime Minister on the condition in the worst-hit regions along the Tawi river, which saw extensive damage yesterday. “I am grateful for his assurance of continued assistance to the people of J-K,” he said.
Abdullah noted some relief as the rains stopped on Wednesday. “Compared to yesterday, there is slight relief today with the cessation of rain. Water is slowly receding in low-lying areas. The damage caused by floods is visible. This bridge has been damaged,” he said.
He referenced the damage to the fourth bridge over the Tawi river in Jammu city during the 2014 floods, adding, “I was telling the Divisional Commissioner that in 2014, the bridge suffered damage at the same spot. There is a risk here that we need to understand properly. Expert teams will be deployed to determine why damage occurred both in 2014 and today, and measures will be taken to prevent recurrence.”
Focusing on residents living along rivers and flood channels, he said, “Houses along the river are always at risk during heavy rains. We need to address this. First, we will manage the current situation, then work on long-term solutions.”
He confirmed that rain had stopped, river water levels were receding, and relief operations were accelerating. Referring to other districts affected by heavy rains and flash floods, he said low-lying areas in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua, as well as parts of Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar near rivers, were particularly impacted.
“Some districts expected to suffer damage, like Rajouri and Poonch, were fortunate. Our priority is to overcome the current rain-related crisis, then assess damage to houses and formulate a relief package,” he said.
On concerns about homes built on flood channels, Abdullah added, “We need to take measures for residents in flood-prone areas. Their homes are repeatedly damaged during floods, and they will need to be resettled in safer locations.”
