J&K Flood Fury: Panic as Tawi River Breaches Banks in Jammu, Cloudburst in Doda
On August 26, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir was gripped by chaos as relentless heavy rainfall unleashed catastrophic flooding, landslides, and a devastating cloudburst in Doda district. The Tawi River, a vital lifeline of Jammu, breached its banks, surpassing its danger mark and submerging low-lying areas, while a cloudburst in Doda’s Bhalesa area triggered flash floods that swept away homes and infrastructure. This blog delves into the unfolding crisis, its devastating impacts, and the urgent response efforts in one of the region’s worst natural disasters in recent memory.
Tawi River Overflows: Panic in Jammu
The Tawi River, swollen by three days of incessant rainfall, crossed its 20-foot danger mark and reached 24.97 feet by 9:15 AM on August 26, with levels in Udhampur soaring a staggering seven feet above the evacuation threshold of 17 feet. The river’s fury eroded banks near Nikki Tawi, threatening adjacent homes and sparking widespread panic. Visuals shared by news agencies like ANI showed raging waters submerging roads and low-lying areas, with locals scrambling to safety. Jammu recorded 190.4 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, marking the second-highest August downpour in a century, only behind the 228.6 mm recorded in 1926.
The flooding disrupted daily life across Jammu city:
- Infrastructure Collapse: A portion of the Fourth Tawi Bridge near Bhagwati Nagar collapsed, stranding four vehicles. Rescue teams evacuated occupants safely, but the incident severed a critical transport link. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was shut down due to landslides and falling rocks in Ramban district, while the Jammu-Pathankot Highway faced disruptions after a bridge collapse in Kathua.
- Submerged Areas: The Jammu railway station was inundated, halting train services. Low-lying neighborhoods, including those near the Tawi and Chenab rivers, were flooded, forcing residents to evacuate.
- Local Heroism: In a heartwarming display of resilience, locals in Jammu used ropes to rescue nearly 20 buffaloes from drowning in the Tawi’s turbulent waters, as captured in viral videos shared on X.
Jammu Deputy Inspector General Shiv Kumar Sharma issued a flood alert, urging residents to avoid rivers and streams. Emergency helplines (0191-2571912, 0191-2571616) were activated, and the administration appealed to the public to stay away from water bodies amid forecasts of continued heavy rainfall until August 27.
Cloudburst in Doda: Devastation in Bhalesa
In Doda district’s Bhalesa area, a cloudburst struck Kahar village and Charu Nallah, unleashing flash floods that caused widespread destruction. At least four people lost their lives, including a girl killed in a house collapse and two others in flash floods, while over a dozen homes and a private health center were damaged. Three footbridges were washed away, and the National Highway-244 (Doda-Kishtwar) was severed near Jangalwar Nallah, isolating communities. The Chenab River, flowing dangerously close to its 900-foot highest flood level (HFL) at 899.3 meters, heightened fears of further devastation.
Doda Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh reported that continuous rainfall for three days, coupled with cloudbursts in two locations, exacerbated the crisis. The Kalnai River, a tributary of the Chenab, overflowed, submerging low-lying areas in Bhaderwah, which recorded 99.8 mm of rainfall in 24 hours. Rescue operations, involving the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local volunteers, were launched to evacuate residents and restore connectivity, but the rugged terrain and ongoing rainfall posed significant challenges.
Regional Impact: A Cascade of Disasters
The flood fury extended beyond Jammu and Doda, affecting multiple districts across Jammu and Kashmir:
- Kathua: Recorded the highest rainfall at 155.6 mm, with the Ravi, Ujh, and Tarnah rivers breaching danger levels. The Modhopur barrage crossed one lakh cusecs, flooding low-lying areas.
- Kishtwar: Still reeling from a cloudburst on August 14 that killed 61 people during the Machail Mata Yatra, the district reported additional damage to homes and infrastructure.
- Ramban and Reasi: Landslides blocked the Srinagar-Jammu and Katra-Shivkhori highways, while a landslide near Ardhkuwari halted the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, leaving pilgrims stranded.
- Samba and Udhampur: The Basanter River in Samba surged past 9 feet, exceeding its evacuation level, while the Devak River and Ujh Nallah in Kathua approached critical thresholds.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar until August 27, with risks of further cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in high-altitude areas. Schools across the Jammu division were closed, and authorities banned activities near water bodies, including swimming and fishing.
Response and Leadership
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as “quite serious,” announcing his intent to fly from Srinagar to Jammu to oversee relief efforts. In a post on X, he stated, “Instructions have been issued to place additional funds at the disposal of the DCs to cover emergency restoration work and other exigencies.” Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting to coordinate rescue operations, mobilizing police, armed forces, and disaster response teams. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, representing Udhampur, confirmed ongoing communication with Doda’s administration to monitor the crisis.
Rescue operations are in full swing, with the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) working to clear debris, restore roads, and construct temporary bridges. In Kathua, the opening of all gates at the Ranjit Sagar Dam to ease pressure on the Ravi River prompted urgent evacuations, with revenue teams rescuing families trapped in floodwaters.
Environmental and Structural Concerns
The crisis underscores the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather, amplified by climate change and unplanned development. The Chenab-Tawi belt, with its steep terrain and narrow valleys, acts as a high-energy debris trap during intense rainfall, as seen in previous disasters in Doda (2017), Kishtwar (2021, 2025), and Kathua (2025). Experts point to unregulated construction and deforestation as exacerbating factors, with projects like the Tawi Barrage and Riverfront Development criticized for narrowing river channels and increasing flood risks.
The IMD’s forecast of continued rainfall raises concerns about further erosion and infrastructure damage. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad of the Meteorological Department noted that water levels are expected to recede only when rainfall subsides, offering a brief window for recovery before more rain is anticipated post-August 30.
A Call for Resilience
The flooding and cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir highlight the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience. As the Tawi River continues to rage and Doda grapples with the aftermath of the cloudburst, the focus remains on saving lives and restoring normalcy. The bravery of locals, coupled with coordinated efforts from authorities, offers hope amid the devastation, but the region faces a long road to recovery.
Residents are urged to stay vigilant, avoid water bodies, and heed evacuation orders. The administration’s swift response, backed by community resilience, will be critical in navigating this crisis and preparing for future challenges in an increasingly unpredictable climate.
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