Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Aug 10
The weather department has issued an orange alert for the Jammu region, warning of isolated heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds from August 12 to August 16, with landslides, shooting stones and flash floods possible in vulnerable areas.
The India Meteorological Department’s centre said weather activity across the region would become fairly widespread to widespread during the period, with light to moderate rain expected in many areas.
The weather system is expected to strengthen from August 11, when conditions are forecast to move from the prevailing yellow-alert category towards orange-alert levels.
Earlier forecasts had warned of intense, localised downpours and isolated cloudbursts in higher reaches and vulnerable areas of the Chenab Valley, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch.
Temperatures in Jammu are expected to remain between 31 and 35 degrees Celsius, adding to hot and humid conditions despite the forecast rainfall.
Authorities have renewed safety warnings, asking people living in vulnerable areas to remain alert, stay away from water bodies and avoid locations prone to landslides, flash floods and other weather-related hazards.
The heightened weather alert comes as rescue agencies continued searching for two young men feared drowned in the Chenab river in the Akhnoor area of Jammu district.
Police, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force were involved in the search for Gajay Singh, 30, and Rakesh Singh, 35, both residents of Khour in Akhnoor.
The two had gone to bathe in the river when the incident occurred.
Police recovered their motorcycle, mobile phones, and clothes from the riverbank.
In a separate precautionary measure, the Reasi administration restricted the movement of heavy-axle vehicles, including dumpers and buses, on the 22-metre-span bridge at Nau Devian in Katra.
The restriction took effect at 6 pm on August 11 and was ordered for 72 hours under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Officials said the restriction would remain in place while strengthening work was carried out on the bridge.
The combination of the weather warning and restrictions on vulnerable infrastructure reflects heightened concern over the potential impact of heavy rainfall on roads, bridges and river systems across the Jammu region.
