Udhampur and Jammu Shatter All-Time Rainfall Records in Catastrophic 24-Hour Deluge: IMD

Jammu 27 August :- In an unprecedented meteorological event, the Jammu region was pummeled by extreme rainfall over a 24-hour period, with the cities of Udhampur and Jammu shattering their highest-ever recorded rainfall benchmarks. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Udhampur received a staggering 629.4 mm of rain and Jammu recorded 296 mm between 8:30 am on Tuesday and 8:30 am on Wednesday.

This colossal downpour far exceeded previous records, decisively breaking Udhampur’s July 2019 record of 342 mm and Jammu’s August 1973 record of 272.6 mm. The relentless torrential rains triggered widespread havoc across large parts of Jammu, leading to severe landslides, the complete inundation of low-lying areas, and the catastrophic washing away of several critical roads and bridges.The devastating weather has had fatal consequences, with a major landslide on the route to the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine claiming the lives of 32 people. In a separate rain-related incident, four additional fatalities were reported in the Doda district.

In response to the crisis, extensive rescue operations were underway on Wednesday, with administration officials and disaster response teams working tirelessly to reach and evacuate stranded residents. Preliminary reports from officials indicate that more than 5,000 people have been successfully evacuated from waterlogged localities in the Jammu and Samba districts. The deluge has severely disrupted essential services, with power outages, compromised water supply, and internet blackouts affecting several areas. As a precautionary measure, all schools and colleges have been ordered to remain closed. While the intensity of the rainfall had reduced by Wednesday, the majority of the Jammu division remained on high alert, grappling with the extensive aftermath of the historic downpour.