Rain lashes region, rivers in spate; schools closed
Heli-service to Vaishnodevi hit, roads blocked
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 30: Two Government teachers lost their lives after being caught in a flash flood in Sanasar area of district Ramban while heavy rain lashed region causing landslides and flash floods in the rivers and nallahs besides closure of several roads.
Helicopter service to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine from the base camp Katra remained suspended almost for the entire day while old Yatra route via Ban Ganga and Charan Paduka was closed due to heavy flood in Ban Ganga and mudslides at the old spot near Gulshan Ka Langar.
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River Tawi and Chenab besides several nallahs and stream were flooded due to heavy rain during morning hours today while landslides blocked Reasi- Mahore-Chassana-Budhal Road besides Udhampur-Pancheri and Ramnagar- Basantgarh road. Basohli–Bani road also remained closed for several hours due to landslide and flood in Suka nallah ahead of Bhoond village.
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Reports from Ramban said that two teachers Jagdev Singh (37), son of Kartar Singh and Sanjay Kumar (39), son of Bodh Raj, residents of Ghordi village of Ramnagar in Udhampur district, were travelling on a motorcycle when they were swept away by the strong current of a mountain nallah at Jalebi Morh between Nathatop and Sanasar late Tuesday evening. It was raining heavily in the area and teachers were moving on the bike.
It was learnt that both were under training at DIET, in Kud. After attending the course on the first day, they left on the motorcycle for Sanasar. After that they were not in contact with the family members and friends.
A villager noticed the motorcycle lying in the nallah at Jalebi Morh this morning and informed police and locals at Sanasar. Subsequently, a rescue and search operation was launched.
At around 9:30 am when the information was receieved at Police Post Patnitop that one blue colour motorcycle bearing registration no. JK14D9667 is lying down side the road in a nallah near Jalebi Morh on Nathatop- Sanasar road, the police party rushed to the site. It was suspected that due to flash flood in the nallah someone might have washed away in the same nallah.
On this, PCR Ramban and senior officers were informed accordingly. A team from police picket Sanasar, police team from Police Post Patnitop, police team from Police Station Batote headed by SHO and a police team from Ramban headed by DySP Hqrs Ramban rushed to the spot.
SDRF was also informed to reach the spot. On reaching the spot the police teams conducted the thorough search of the entire nallah downwards and found that one male dead body was lying about 150 mtrs from the Sanasar Nathatop road and another male dead body was found about 300 mtrs from roadside.
During enquiry, it came to fore that two Govt teachers of Udhampur district who were undergoing three day training program at District Institution of Education and Training (DIET) at Kud from July 29, 2025 and in the evening of same day after attending their classes at DIET Kud proceeded towards Sanasar on the above said motorcycle.
Both the Govt teachers were seen by the locals in the Sanasar area around 7:30 pm when it was raining heavily in the area. The photograph of the deceased were shared with the relatives and the bodies were later identified. Both hailed from Gordi area of Udhampur.
The FSL team along with crime photographer was called on spot and both the bodies were being taken into police custody for conducting the autopsy and legal formalities.
The public in the Sanasar and it’s adjoining area has been kept on high alert and advised to remain at safe place in view of the rainy season and flash floods.
Meanwhile, heavy rain lashed many parts of Jammu during morning hours. The rain caused flood in river Tawi, Chenab, Ujh, Basantar and other Nallahs. The maximum water level at Akhnoor in Chenab was 29.7 ft at around 3 pm and there after the water started receding. Tawi recorded a maximum water level of about 10 ft between 10 and 11 am today and after it the water level went down.
Due to landslide near Chobu Nallah, Udhampur-Pancheri- Landhar road remained blocked for more than five hours . Ramnagar and Basantgarh road also remained closed for several hours after blockade.
The Reasi- Mahore and Budhal roads also remained blocked during the day but were opened in the afternoon. Basohli-Bani road was also restored in the evening.
Meanwhile, heavy rain was witnessed in Jammu city and water logging at many places disrupted the movement of traffic. A sharp fall in the temperature was experienced in the evening.
In view of the inclement weather, the Administration has closed government and private schools in Udhampur and Doda districts. Today, in Ramban district the schools had been ordered for closure but the order was issued bit late in the morning and many students and teachers had already left home for their respective schools.
A MeT official has predicted hot and humid weather from August Ist to 6, with brief spell of rain at a few places.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has condoled the death of two Government teachers Jagdev Singh and Sanjay Kumar, due to an unfortunate incident of flash-flood in Ramban.
In a condolence message, the Lieutenant Governor said: “The news of the death of two Government teachers due to unfortunate incident of flash-flood in Ramban is saddening. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May God give them strength to bear this irreparable loss”.
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