Death Toll Rises to 36 After Record Rain in Jammu; Jhelum River Breaches Flood Alert in Srinagar

Jammu/Srinagar — The death toll from severe rains in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 36, with most casualties resulting from a devastating landslide on the route to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district. After two days of relentless downpour, the rain has eased, allowing relief operations to gain momentum.

The swollen rivers across Jammu have started to recede, but the flood alert mark was breached by the Jhelum River in Anantnag and Srinagar, causing water to enter several residential areas. Authorities have urged residents to remain calm as monitoring continues.

Massive damage has been reported to public infrastructure, including key bridges, homes, and businesses due to flash floods and overflowing water bodies. Telecom services were partially restored after being suspended for over 22 hours. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah traveled to Jammu to personally oversee the situation.

The landslide near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Ardhkuwari on the Katra-to-Vaishno Devi trek struck at around 3 pm on Tuesday, killing 32 people and injuring 20 others, some of whom have since died in hospital. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid fears more may be trapped.

The pilgrimage to the shrine remains suspended as authorities assess the safety of the route.

Jammu recorded a historic 380 mm of rainfall in 24 hours — the highest since records began in 1910. The Jhelum River crossed flood alert levels of 21 ft at Sangam (Anantnag) and 18 ft at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, triggering evacuations of over 10,000 people from flood-prone areas.

Additional fatalities include four people in Doda district due to heavy rain-related incidents. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway and several other roads remain closed because of landslides.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and assured support to affected families via social media. Chief Minister Abdullah has briefed the Prime Minister and thanked him for his support.

Officials report a flash flood in Kishtwar’s Margi area washed away ten houses and a bridge, but no casualties were reported.

With rivers such as the Tawi, Chenab, Ujh, Ravi, and Basanter flowing well above danger levels, the heavy rainfall continued to challenge the region. However, after rains stopped around 11 am on Wednesday, water levels began to recede gradually, offering a glimmer of relief.