JAMMU: Seven people, including four women, were rescued after being stranded in the swollen Ujh river amid incessant rains in Kathua district on Tuesday, police said.
The rescue operation was launched after Police Post Nagri received information that seven civilians were stranded in the river near Mahi Chak village, a police spokesperson said.
Joint teams of police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued all seven persons and handed them over to their families.
The rescued persons were identified as Malka Khatam, 50, Zulfa Begum, 30, Seema Begum, 60, Iqbal Ali, 9, Shaina Bano, 11, Mobina Bano, 17, and Asia Bano, 16.
Police appealed to people to remain cautious and avoid venturing near rivers and nallahs during inclement weather.
According to the Meteorological Department, Kathua recorded 156 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 5.30 pm, the highest in the region. Jammu recorded 79 mm, Katra 71 mm and Samba 55 mm.
The heavy rainfall led to a rise in water levels in rivers and other water bodies, triggering flash floods in low-lying areas, particularly in Kathua district.
The weather department has forecast a wet spell till August 22, with the possibility of heavy rain or brief spells of intense rain in some districts on August 12 and again between August 17 and 19 in one or two districts of the Jammu division.
