Amit Shah extends support to J-K CM Omar Abdullah amid incessant rainfall and flash floods
New Delhi, July 8
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday spoke with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and took stock of the situation arising due to heavy rainfall and assured every possible assistance from the Centre to tackle it.
The call comes after flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall caused widespread disruption across the Chenab Valley on Monday, affecting road connectivity in Doda district and damaging infrastructure at the 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project in Kishtwar district.
In Doda district, National Highway 244 was closed at Premnagar after floodwaters and debris blocked the road, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. Several vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the highway as authorities worked to restore connectivity.
The closure also affected the ongoing annual Machail Yatra, with officials advising pilgrims and commuters to avoid the route until it is declared safe.
Meanwhile, in the Kishtwar district, flash floods caused extensive damage at the 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project. At the Tailrace Tunnel (TRT) site, a massive flow of water and mud swept through the area, burying several vehicles under debris and damaging project infrastructure.
Rescue and clearance operations were deployed, while authorities continued to assess the extent of the damage.
Speaking to ANI, NHIDCL Highway Manager Sunny Padha described the situation at Premnagar as severe and said immediate action was taken to clear the road.
"Actually, this is Neeraj Prem Nagar, near the Kalka Mata temple; my vehicle was parked there. I received a call in the morning informing me that my vehicle was there. When I arrived, the atmosphere was terrifying; there was severe flooding. I even have a video of it. Since I actually work here--I am the highway manager for this area--I immediately called for an excavator and a JCB on the spot and cleared the traffic, but the flooding in the morning was indescribable."
Authorities are continuing restoration work in the affected areas and have urged people to avoid travelling through flood-hit stretches until conditions improve and the routes are declared safe.
Earlier, three gates of the Baglihar Dam in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district were opened after the water level in the Chenab River rose significantly due to incessant rainfall in the Doda-Kishtwar region.
The administration said it is continuously monitoring weather conditions and the river flow, with all concerned departments remaining on alert to respond to any emergency.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some proactive response from the Centre! But why does it always take a disaster for the government to sit up and notice J&K? The roads in Doda have been in terrible condition for years. This flash flood was waiting to happen. 😔
As a former resident of Kishtwar, my heart goes out to the people affected. The Kwar project damage is a major setback for the region's power needs. Hope NHIDCL and the Army are able to restore connectivity soon. The Machail Yatra pilgrims must be stuck in really tough conditions. Stay safe everyone! 🇮🇳
Visiting family in Jammu right now and the rain has been non-stop for three days. We heard the Baglihar Dam gates were opened - that must have been a controlled release. Grateful for the quick response from both the state and central governments. Climate change is making these events more frequent, we need better flood management systems.
Amit Shah calling Omar Abdullah personally is a good gesture but the real test is how quickly the relief reaches the affected hamlets in Doda and Kishtwar. The NHIDCL manager's description sounds terrifying - vehicles being swept away! 😨 Need to ensure all pilgrims on the Machail route are accounted for and safe.
Every year it's the same story - heavy rains, blocked highways, stranded yatris. We need long-term solutions like building climate-resilient infrastructure in the Himalayas, not just reactive calls after disaster strikes. Kudos to the local administration for their swift action though. 🙏
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