July 31, 2025

Heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir on July 30, 2025, led to tragic incidents, including the deaths of two soldiers and two teachers due to flash floods and falling boulders. An uprooted tree was seen on the banks of the Tawi River, exemplifying the impact of rising water levels amidst continuous rainfall. In one of the incidents, an Army convoy was traveling from Durbuk to Chongtash when a boulder hit one of the vehicles, resulting in the deaths of Lieutenant Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh and Lance Dafadar Daljeet Singh. Meanwhile, three other soldiers were injured in the accident—Major Mayank Shubham, Major Amit Dixit, and Captain Gaurav. They were quickly moved to an Army hospital in Leh for necessary medical attention. In the Batote area of Jammu, intense rainfall over the past 12 hours caused flash floods that swept away a motorcycle. In this unfortunate incident, two teachers, Jagdev Singh Thakur and Sanjay Sharma, both from the Ghordi Block of Udhampur district, lost their lives. Authorities in the region are currently assessing the damage caused by the flooding. The ongoing Amarnath yatra, an annual pilgrimage that draws hundreds of thousands of devotees, was also directly impacted by the adverse weather conditions. Officials announced the suspension of the yatra from both the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps due to persistent heavy rains since early morning. Consequently, no movements were permitted from both base camps—Baltal and Nunwan/Chandanwari. So far, over 3.93 lakh pilgrims have successfully managed to pay their respects at the Holy Cave shrine. In the Pir Panjal valley areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts, conditions have led to the closure of all educational institutions as a precaution due to the meteorological department's predictions of further flash floods. The local government is actively monitoring the situation and is prepared to take additional measures as necessary to ensure public safety. In summary, the ongoing wet spell in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in immense challenges from nature, with multiple reported fatalities and significant disruptions including the suspension of the revered Amarnath yatra. Authorities continue to address immediate concerns and provide aid to those affected by these severe weather events.

Read More at Thehindu →

Tags: Jammu, Kashmir, Flash floods, Amarnath yatra, Soldiers,