Jammu, August 31, 2025 – Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah is set to undertake a crucial visit to #Jammu on Monday, September 1, 2025, to assess the devastating impact of recent floods and cloudbursts in the region. The visit comes amid ongoing relief and rescue operations following heavy rainfall that has claimed over 150 lives, including numerous pilgrims, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and agricultural lands.According to official sources, Shah’s itinerary for the day begins with an aerial survey of the #flood-affected areas at 10:45 am. This high-altitude assessment will provide a comprehensive overview of the destruction in key districts such as Jammu, Reasi (including the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine base camp in Katra), and Kishtwar, where flash floods and landslides triggered by cloudbursts have been particularly severe. The floods, which intensified in mid-August, have led to the swelling of rivers, mass evacuations, and disruptions to essential services, with reports indicating nearly 170 casualties across the Jammu division, predominantly pilgrims en route to sacred sites like Machail Mata and Vaishno Devi.
Following the aerial survey, at 11:30 am, the Home Minister will chair a high-level review meeting on #flood relief measures at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu. The meeting will be attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, senior officials from the Jammu and Kashmir administration, representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and security agencies including the Army, BSF, NDRF, and IAF. Discussions are expected to focus on the progress of rescue operations, immediate relief distribution, rehabilitation efforts, restoration of critical infrastructure like bridges and national highways, and long-term strategies to mitigate future flood risks. Shah is also likely to interact with affected families and injured pilgrims, potentially visiting Narayana Hospital in Katra to meet victims of the recent landslides at Ardhkuwari.This two-day visit, which Shah is anticipated to commence upon arrival in Jammu on Sunday evening (August 31), underscores the Central Government’s commitment to supporting the people of Jammu and Kashmir during this crisis. Accompanied by a team of MHA officials, the Home Minister has been in regular communication with LG Sinha and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who have been briefed on the ground situation. The Indian Air Force has already conducted over 55 sorties since August 27, rescuing more than 215 individuals and airlifting 7,300 kg of relief materials, in coordination with other agencies.
Expectations are high for the announcement of a substantial central relief package during or shortly after Shah’s visit, to aid in rebuilding efforts and provide financial assistance to the affected communities. The floods have not only resulted in tragic loss of life but also inflicted heavy damage on public and private properties, fields, and livestock, prompting calls for enhanced disaster preparedness in the vulnerable Himalayan region.The visit highlights the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather events in #JammuAndKashmir, including cloudbursts, #flashfloods, and #landslides, which have disrupted connectivity and led to the formation of probe panels, such as the one investigating the Vaishno Devi route tragedy. As rescue operations continue, with 32 people still reported missing, Shah’s presence is seen as a morale booster for the administration and victims alike.
