The flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir worsened sharply on Wednesday, with almost all rivers and streams flowing above the flood mark. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a meeting to review the latest conditions across the Union Territory.
At 1 p.m., the Chenab, Tawi, Ravi, Basantar, and Ujh rivers in Jammu were flowing above flood level, while the Jhelum, Vishow, Sindh, Sheshnag, Lidder, and other streams in Kashmir were fast approaching the danger mark.
&ldquo;The Jhelum River was flowing close to evacuation level at Sangam in Anantnag district, while at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, the river was barely a foot lower than the flood mark,&rdquo; officials reported. The Vishow, Lidder, and Sheshnag streams were also above flood levels in south Kashmir, and the Sindh stream in north Kashmir was nearing the alert mark. Some bridges in South and North Kashmir have reportedly been damaged by the rising waters.
Floodwaters from the Chenab inundated several villages in Akhnoor, prompting authorities to use loudspeakers in Jammu city, warning residents to stay away from the spate-hit Tawi River.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed the administration to intensify ground response, clear waterlogged areas, safeguard essential services, carry out timely evacuations in critical zones, and provide immediate relief. Two ministers, Javed Rana and Satish Sharma, briefed him on Jammu&rsquo;s situation, while Health Minister Sakina Itoo and advisor Nasir Sogami updated him on conditions in Kashmir.
The CM appealed to residents to follow advisories and avoid vulnerable areas.
Transport across the region remains severely disrupted. The Srinagar-Jammu highway, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Pass remained closed. Shortages of essential supplies triggered panic buying in the Valley. Train services in the Jammu division were badly affected, particularly along the Pathankot-Jammu line, with track breaches and misalignments leaving scores of passengers stranded, including Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
&ldquo;To facilitate stranded passengers, shuttle services have been pressed into service between Jammu Tawi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Additionally, long-distance trains, including Jammu Tawi-Kolkata and Katra-New Delhi, have been allowed to operate,&rdquo; railway officials said. Four trains have been inducted for shuttle services between September 1 and 15, including Sampark Kranti, Sealdah Express, Kantri Express, Trivandrum Express, and Vande Bharat, which will resume operations from September 7.
Officials added that seven special trains have already transported 5,784 stranded passengers from Jammu for their onward journeys. Despite partial resumption, full normalcy in rail operations may take weeks due to the scale of damage.
Schools and colleges across both Jammu division and the Kashmir Valley have been closed for the day. The Meteorological Department has forecast gradual improvement in weather beginning Wednesday evening. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

J&K Flood Alert: Rivers Cross Danger Levels

Chenab, Tawi, Jhelum surge as heavy rains disrupt transport, schools, and daily life

J&K Flood Alert: Rivers Cross Danger Levels

Chenab, Tawi, Jhelum surge as heavy rains disrupt transport, schools, and daily life

September 3, 2025 | 15:08 IST