Jammu, August 27, 2025 – Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conducted an extensive tour of flood-affected areas in Jammu today to assess the damage caused by relentless monsoon rains and to supervise ongoing relief and recovery operations. The visit comes amid a severe flood crisis triggered by over 380 mm of rainfall in 38 hours, which has inundated low-lying areas, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted essential services across Jammu and Kashmir.
Accompanied by Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Satish Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, Inspector General of Police Jammu Zone Bhim Sen Tuti, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Dr. Rakesh Minhas, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ansuya Jamwal, and other district officers, the Chief Minister inspected key sites including the 4th Tawi Bridge in Bhagwati Nagar, Science College at Old Campus University, Hari Singh Park near Hotel Fortune Riviera, and flood-hit areas of Gujjar Nagar. He noted that the damaged end portion of the 4th Tawi Bridge, previously affected during the 2014 floods, requires immediate technical evaluation to prevent future risks.Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Minhas briefed Abdullah on rescue operations, temporary shelter arrangements, supply logistics, and inter-departmental coordination. Over 5,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas, with more than 3,500 rescues in Jammu alone, supported by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local teams. The Chief Minister directed officials to prioritize resolving on-ground challenges, ensure holistic rehabilitation for families with damaged homes, and expedite restoration of electricity, water supply, and road access.Abdullah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the flood situation, highlighting the worst-hit areas along the Tawi River.
The Prime Minister assured full support from the Government of India, for which Abdullah expressed gratitude. The Chief Minister also announced that a comprehensive relief package for Jammu and Kashmir would be formulated soon.Expressing grief over the tragic landslide near Ardhkuwari at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, which killed at least 31 pilgrims and injured over 20, Abdullah lamented the loss of lives, stating that preventive measures should have been taken to halt the yatra in light of advance weather warnings. He conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, noting that ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh from the Shrine Board and an additional Rs 4 lakh from the SDRF is being provided.
To address communication disruptions, Abdullah directed BSNL, Reliance Jio, and Bharti Airtel to immediately restore telecom and internet services, emphasizing their critical role during crises. The Centre has mandated intra-circle roaming activation until September 2 to aid emergency communications. He also ordered urgent restoration of traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and Jammu-Pathankot Highway to clear stranded vehicles.During his tour, Abdullah interacted with affected residents, assessed damages, and directed officials to expedite temporary arrangements and essential service restoration. The crisis, worsened by rivers like Tawi, Chenab, and Jhelum surpassing danger levels, has led to 22 train cancellations, suspension of the Vaishno Devi yatra, and widespread infrastructure damage. The IMD’s red alert for continued heavy rain, cloudbursts, and flash floods has prompted heightened vigilance, with helplines (112, 6005953255) active for emergencies.
