The water level of the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 899.3 metres on Tuesday following heavy rainfall.
Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh said that apart from the swelling of the Chenab, reports of cloudbursts were also received, which led to the washing away of National Highway 244.
He added that three people had died due to rain-related incidents, while 15 residential houses, a cow shed, and a private health centre were damaged.
“It has been raining continuously for three days, especially in the areas along the Chenab River. Reports of cloudbursts have come from two places. NH-244 has been washed away in a cloudburst, and our teams are working to restore it. So far, three lives have been lost—two in Gandhor and one in the Thathri subdivision. Fifteen residential houses, cow sheds, and a private health centre have been damaged. Three footbridges have also been washed away. The highest flood level of the Chenab is 900 metres, and the river has already reached 899.3 metres, leaving a difference of just over one metre,” Singh told ANI.
He further stated that movement near the river and on adjoining roads has been restricted. “Given the way it is raining, we expect the highest flood level to be breached. We have restricted movement near the Chenab and shifted people to safe locations,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju reported an accident near Drass in Ladakh, where a vehicle fell into a river just ahead of his convoy. Both occupants were safely rescued.
“Before reaching Drass in Ladakh, one vehicle fell into the river just ahead of our convoy. Luckily, we were on time and both persons survived,” Rijiju posted on X.
(DD News)
