JAMMU/SRINAGAR: A 45-year-old woman was killed in a house collapse in Rajouri on Saturday as fresh spells of rain lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir, taking the weather-related death toll in the Union Territory to 30 since July 19.
Officials said Shahida Parveen died after her house collapsed in Bhatian village of Thanamandi in Rajouri. Her husband, Abdul Rehman, and son, Toufeeq Rehman, sustained injuries and were shifted to hospital.
Six people, including a government employee, remain missing, while search and rescue operations are continuing.
Poonch has been the worst-hit district, accounting for 18 deaths and five missing persons. Rajouri has reported three deaths and one missing person, while Doda and Ramban have recorded three and two fatalities, respectively. In Kashmir, three people, including a mother and son, lost their lives in separate flash flood incidents in Bandipora and Budgam districts.
With weather conditions improving, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened after remaining closed for three days due to multiple landslides.
The annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra also resumed after a six-day suspension, though only via the Baltal route, with the Pahalgam axis remaining temporarily closed for repair and maintenance works. More than 6,000 pilgrims left Jammu for Kashmir on Saturday. The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine also resumed partially after remaining suspended since July 19.
Meanwhile, water levels in the Jhelum basin receded below the warning mark at all gauge stations across south and central Kashmir, according to the Irrigation and Flood Safety Control (I&FSC) Department.
The department said moderate to heavy rainfall occurred in the southern catchment during the day, but the overall receding trend in the river is expected to continue up to Wular Lake despite the possibility of a temporary slowdown in the recession.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that rainfall activity is likely to decrease over south Kashmir and gradually shift towards central and north Kashmir.
Authorities have advised residents living along river embankments and in low-lying areas to remain vigilant, while cautioning pilgrims and commuters to follow official advisories as intermittent rainfall is expected to continue in parts of the Union Territory.
Amarnath Yatra to continue via Baltal
The annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra will continue through the Baltal route as repair and maintenance work is undertaken on the Pahalgam axis following recent rainfall, the administration said on Saturday.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg said urgent restoration work was required on the Pahalgam route to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
“Due to the recent rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The Yatra shall continue through the Baltal Axis, for which adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage,” Garg said.
He appealed to pilgrims and other stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities and follow official advisories in the interest of their safety and the smooth conduct of the Yatra.
Traffic resumes on Jammu-Srinagar highway after restoration work
Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) resumed on Saturday after restoration agencies cleared landslide debris and shooting stones from several affected locations in Ramban district.
Officials said road restoration teams worked continuously to remove debris left by landslides triggered by recent heavy rainfall, allowing vehicular movement to resume on the highway.
The reopening has brought relief to hundreds of stranded passengers and transporters affected by the closure of the Valley’s only all-weather road link with the rest of the country, traffic officials said.
They advised commuters to follow traffic regulations and directions issued by the Traffic Police while travelling, as restoration work is still underway at vulnerable stretches.
The authorities also urged motorists to check the latest traffic advisories before starting their journey, as weather conditions could continue to affect traffic movement on the highway.
