Landslides, flash floods in Jammu, Army rescues four in Poonch

PTI

Jammu, July 28

Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall damaged several houses and structures in Jammu on Thursday. Some bridges were washed away and scores of vehicles were stuck on roads and highways in various districts of the region, officials said.

In Poonch, Army men rescued four persons trapped in flash flood in a river. Jammu-based defence PRO said the rescue operation was taken up in coordination with SDRF and police personnel.

Protest after building collapse

• Several people escaped unhurt when an old building collapsed in Kanak Mandi, triggering protest against the Jammu MC.
• People alleged the MC had failed to raze unsafe buildings in the old city, causing a threat to lives of residents and shopkeepers.

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed for traffic in the morning due to landslides and shooting stones in Ramban district.

In Jammu, police and locals swung into action and rescued students and teachers trapped in a school building due to flash floods in the Muthi-Udhaywala area.

Several people escaped unhurt when an old building collapsed due to heavy rains in Kanak Mandi. It triggered protests against the Jammu Municipal Corporation for its alleged failure to bring down unsafe buildings in the old city, causing a threat to lives of residents and shopkeepers.

A wall of another house collapsed in Kalka colony. Most of the roads and dozens of colonies in Jammu city were inundated due to heavy rainfall gauged over 80 mm in a few hours. As per reports, dozens of houses and structures suffered damage due to rains, flash floods and landslides in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Reasi districts.

The worst-affected areas in Jammu were Keran, lower Roopnagar, Kangrail, Raipur, Kot-Bhalwal, Burn and Ghrota, Paloura, Takab Tillo, Channi Himmat and other low-lying areas where the rainwater entered houses, officials said. Power and water supply in parts of the city and other rural areas was affected.

The water level of most of the rivers like Chenab, Tawi, Ujh, Basantar and other nullahs was above the danger mark. Authorities urged people to stay away from rivers.

In Ramban, schools and other educational institutions have been shut owing to heavy rain. Students are advised to stay home and remain safe, an official said.

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