Landslides and flash floods cut off the vital road, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.
3 September 2025, New Delhi
Heavy rains over the last few days have triggered massive landslides and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir, causing widespread damage and loss of life. One of the worst-hit areas is the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, a crucial lifeline for the region, which has been blocked once again after fresh landslides. Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks carrying essential supplies, have been stranded as authorities struggle to clear the debris. The highway had only partially reopened on Sunday after being closed for a week due to earlier floods and rains.
In Rajouri’s Sunderbani region, heavy rains brought down a house, killing a mother and her daughter, adding to the steadily rising death toll. Dozens of other houses have also been damaged across the region, leaving many families displaced. In Udhampur, apart from the damage to the highway, sinking land and landslides have brought down transmission towers, disrupting power supply to several areas and adding to the hardships faced by residents.
More than 170 people have lost their lives across Jammu and Kashmir in the past three weeks as landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts continue to wreak havoc, according to officials. The last 24 hours alone have brought particularly heavy rainfall in most parts of the Union Territory, resulting in fresh floods, land subsidence, and landslides. Water levels in the Jhelum and Chenab rivers have risen dangerously, crossing the flood danger mark and threatening nearby areas with more inundation.
As the situation worsened, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with senior officials in an emergency session. Rescue teams, along with men and machinery, have been deployed at several vulnerable spots to help people trapped by the rising waters. Officials confirmed that a large number of residents have already been evacuated from submerged areas. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges across Jammu and Kashmir have been closed until further notice.
The impact of the floods has been felt in Chadoora, where the overflowing Doodhganga rivulet entered several homes and business establishments. At one automobile workshop, workers tried desperately to save their tools and equipment before the floodwaters submerged the premises. In a nearby locality, relief came only after the Doodhganga washed away a culvert that had blocked the natural flow of water and caused heavy flooding in the village. With continuous rain showing little sign of easing, the people of Jammu and Kashmir remain on edge. Many areas are still waterlogged, homes have been damaged, and supplies are running low due to road blockages. Relief operations are underway, but officials warn that the situation remains critical as weather conditions continue to worsen.
