Nine rescued after sudden water surge in Tawi river

June 25, 2025 by News Desk

In a dramatic rescue operation on Wednesday morning, nine individuals trapped in the Tawi River in Jammu were saved after a sudden rise in water level caused by intense overnight rainfall across the region.

The rescue, carried out jointly by the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local volunteers, took place near the Jewel Chowk bridge. Among those rescued was 52-year-old labourer Madan Lal, who had been extracting sand from the river when the water surged around 8:45 am. He remained stranded for nearly two hours before SDRF teams used a ladder to safely bring him out.

As per Daily Excelsior, Eight others, including individuals performing religious rituals at the riverbank, were also pulled to safety in the coordinated operation. Several horses caught in the rising waters were rescued as well.

Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar national highway faced major disruptions after mudslides at Mehad and near the T2 tunnel in Ramban district blocked traffic around 6:30 am. Road clearance teams managed to restore movement later in the morning.

According to the Meteorological Department, Katra recorded the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours at 108.5 mm, followed by Rajouri (80 mm), Udhampur (71.4 mm), Poonch (48 mm), and Ramban (47.5 mm). Officials have forecast more light to moderate rain in the coming days, with the possibility of heavy rainfall in parts of the Jammu division through June 27.

Authorities have urged residents, especially those near rivers and landslide-prone zones, to exercise caution amid the continuing wet spell.