Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, July 8

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday reviewed the flood and rain situation in four states, including Jammu and Kashmir, and assured their chief ministers of the Centre’s full support as heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods, landslides and widespread disruption.

Shah spoke separately with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to assess the impact of the adverse weather, officials said.

During the conversations, the home minister assured the states that the federal government would provide all necessary assistance for rescue, relief and restoration efforts.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Shah reviewed the situation after flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall swept through Thathri town in Doda district, damaging houses, shops and vehicles and blocking National Highway-244, the principal road linking Doda with Kishtwar.

The flooding, caused by torrents carrying mud, rocks and debris from the upper reaches, marked the third flash flood incident to hit the mountainous Doda-Kishtwar region within a week, underscoring the impact of sustained monsoon activity across the Chenab Valley.

Authorities later restored one-way traffic on the highway after extensive debris clearance operations, although restoration work continues in the affected areas.

In Kerala, Shah discussed rescue operations following a landslide at an under-construction tunnel project in Wayanad district, where three people were killed after a rain-soaked mound of excavated earth collapsed at the work site.

The home minister expressed satisfaction over the rescue efforts and urged the state government to conduct a high-level inquiry into the incident, which local authorities have described as a possible man-made disaster.

The Kerala government informed the Centre that the state cabinet had already ordered an investigation. Several people were injured in the incident, while search operations continued for those reported missing.

In Maharashtra, torrential rainfall disrupted daily life in Mumbai, delaying suburban train services and affecting long-distance rail operations after waterlogging and landslides damaged key transport corridors.

Train services towards Gujarat remained partially disrupted due to flooding on sections of the railway network, while restoration work continued on the Mumbai–Pune route following landslides earlier in the week.

Heavy rainfall also caused one of Mumbai’s seven drinking water reservoirs, Tulsi Lake, to overflow after sustained precipitation in its catchment area.

In neighbouring Gujarat, authorities continued relief operations after exceptionally heavy rainfall inundated parts of the state’s southern districts.

Surat district was among the worst affected, where rain-related incidents claimed five lives over the past two days and forced authorities to evacuate around 2,100 residents from flood-hit localities.

The India Meteorological Department reported “extremely heavy” rainfall across isolated parts of South Gujarat, including Surat, Valsad and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with Kamrej in Surat district receiving more than 300 mm of rain within ten hours.

Schools and colleges remained closed in parts of Surat and Navsari as authorities monitored the flood situation and continued evacuation and relief operations.

The southwest monsoon has intensified across large parts of India in recent days, prompting weather agencies to warn of further heavy rainfall in several regions and raising concerns over flooding, landslides and disruptions to transport and public services.