The Kashmir Valley and large parts of the Jammu division have been brought to a standstill following relentless rainfall, severe flooding, and fresh weather alerts. On Wednesday, September 3, authorities ordered the closure of all government and private schools, as well as colleges across the Kashmir division, while Jammu University also suspended classes for the day. This move comes as a precautionary measure to safeguard students and staff, given the escalating flood risks and the possibility of cloudbursts and landslides.

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) also postponed the Class 10 and Class 11 examinations, further underlining the disruption caused by the extreme weather. Schools and colleges remain shuttered as the focus has now shifted to ensuring safety, relief operations, and restoration of essential services across the Union Territory.

Torrential rains wreak havoc across Jammu & Kashmir

The Jammu region has borne the brunt of the weather calamity. Over 110 lives have been lost in the past two weeks due to flash floods, landslides, and rain-related accidents. Thousands of families have been displaced, and crops across large swathes of agricultural land have been destroyed.

The Tawi River in Jammu, a critical waterway, swelled dangerously to 13.5 feet — just half a foot below the official warning level. Similarly, the Basantar River in Samba, along with the Chenab, Tarnah, Ujh, and Ravi rivers, all crossed alert levels before beginning to recede.

Authorities have been racing against time to relocate residents from low-lying and flood-prone areas. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and local administration have been engaged in evacuations and the setup of emergency shelters.

Adding to the severity, day temperatures have dipped to 10°C below normal, with Jammu city recording a maximum of just 23.4°C. This drastic fall illustrates the impact of the continuous rainfall and cloud cover.

BJP lawmakers and Centre mobilise resources

Relief and rescue efforts have been bolstered by contributions from political leaders. BJP MLAs and MPs collectively pledged ₹35.5 crore for flood relief, with ₹28 crore from 28 MLAs and ₹7.5 crore from MPs. This announcement was made by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who also criticised the NC-led state government for what he termed as an ineffective and delayed response.

In parallel, the Union Government released ₹209 crore to the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Response Fund, while also mobilising central agencies to conduct medical camps, community drives, and relief missions. This intervention has brought much-needed assistance in areas where local infrastructure has collapsed.

Fresh weather alerts raise concerns

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh warnings for the next 16 hours, predicting intense rainfall, cloudbursts, waterlogging, and possible landslides across districts including Jammu, Kathua, Reasi, Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri, Ramban, and parts of Pir Panjal and South Kashmir.

Some of the highest rainfall figures were recorded in Batote (55.1 mm), followed by significant amounts in Bhaderwah, Katra, and Jammu city. These figures point to the continuing intensity of the monsoon system, which has not shown signs of easing.

Criticism, relief, and the path forward

The crisis has also triggered political debates. Sunil Sharma, while acknowledging the efforts of central and local rescue agencies, strongly criticised the NC-led J&K government for its “slow and ineffective” relief operations. He demanded immediate attention towards rehabilitation of over 200 families, distribution of free rations through FCI, and special support for flood-affected farmers.

Residents, meanwhile, are grappling with disrupted electricity, food shortages, waterlogging, and collapsed transport links. With schools closed and exams postponed, students have been left uncertain about their academic schedules.

The administration’s top priority remains to restore connectivity, provide food and medical aid, and strengthen embankments in vulnerable river zones. However, the forecast of further heavy downpours poses a serious challenge.

Conclusion

The closure of schools, colleges, and Jammu University, along with postponed board exams, underscores the unprecedented impact of the floods in Jammu and Kashmir. Relief operations are ongoing, but the scale of destruction has revealed vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness. With river levels rising, temperatures plunging, and fresh alerts being issued, the region faces an uphill task in restoring normalcy.

The coming days will be crucial, as the effectiveness of relief and rehabilitation efforts, combined with weather patterns, will determine how soon life in Jammu and Kashmir can stabilise.

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