Key points
- Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu recorded 368 mm of rain in a day
- India’s release of water from Thein and Madhopur dams has pushed Pakistan’s Punjab into a flood emergency
- Authorities in both countries have shut schools, issued rain alerts, and launched rescue operations
ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan faces dangerously high flood levels in its rivers following India’s release of water from the Thein and Madhopur dams, northern India is itself battling a deluge of its own. Raging waters and landslides have devastated communities across Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, claiming at least 34 lives, with more rain expected in the coming days.
Tragedy at Vaishno Devi
One of the deadliest incidents unfolded Tuesday along the sacred path to the Vaishno Devi shrine, a revered pilgrimage site, where a massive landslide crushed at least 30 people, according to local media outlet ANI. The sacred trail turned deadly in seconds, trapping pilgrims under boulders and debris.
This marks yet another catastrophe in the Himalayan region, coming just a week after 60 people died and 200 went missing in Kishtwar, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu, due to flash floods and landslides.
Flooded cities, collapsing bridges
The situation worsened as Indian-occupied Jammu recorded 368 mm of rain, nearly 15 inches on Tuesday alone. Overflowing rivers, including the Tawi, Chenab, Jhelum, and Basantar, flooded low-lying neighbourhoods and swept through rural districts, killing three in Doda and forcing mass evacuations.
The Madhopur bridge, a critical link between Jammu and northern India, partially collapsed on Wednesday morning. Televised images showed vehicles plunging from the broken structure, while major highways to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu were also damaged or rendered impassable.
Communications in many areas have gone silent.
“The immediate priority is restoring electricity, water, and mobile services,” said India’s Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, in a post on X, adding that authorities had worked through the night.
Schools shut, alerts issued
With storm clouds still hovering, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings for more rain and thunderstorms with gusty winds across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Schools have been ordered shut in several districts, including parts of Punjab, to ensure student safety.
“We are cut off. There is no communication. We are still counting the damage,” said Omar Abdullah, former chief minister of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu, describing the chaos as telecom and power lines remained down.
Pakistan on high alert
On the other side of the border, Pakistan is also reeling. Its Punjab province has declared a flood emergency, following the release of dam water by India. Rivers Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej have risen to dangerous levels, submerging low-lying areas.
Pakistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned that flood levels were “very high to exceptionally high,” and military troops have been called in for rescue efforts in six districts.
