Jammu: The Chenab river crossed the danger mark in the Akhnoor area of Jammu division on Wednesday following continuous heavy rainfall, submerging a temple and isolating several villages, officials said.
In Kotli village, overflowing water flooded multiple houses, while in Hamirpur it entered residential areas, cutting off road links and leaving the locality completely marooned.
The Jammu (Rural) Police issued an advisory, urging people to stay away from riverbanks and ensure that children remain indoors.
“Rescue operations were launched after about 40 members of the Gujjar community were stranded in Garkhal Gram Panchayat. A large-scale operation is underway to evacuate them to safer locations,” an official said, adding that ground teams are monitoring the situation closely.
Authorities closed the old Akhnoor bridge after the river’s water level rose sharply and advised commuters to use alternate routes.
Heavy rainfall has persisted across Jammu and Kashmir since Tuesday, causing the river to swell.
According to the Meteorological Department, between 8:30 am Tuesday and 5:30 am Wednesday, Reasi recorded 203 mm of rainfall, Katra 193 mm, Batote 157.3 mm, Doda 114 mm, and Bhaderwah 96.2 mm. The Jammu observatory registered 81 mm during the same period.
