Swift Rescue Operations Save 14 Lives After River Levels Surge in Jammu, Rajouri

Fourteen people stranded in swollen rivers across Jammu and Rajouri districts were rescued safely on Sunday after sudden rises in water levels triggered by heavy rainfall and flash flood-like conditions, officials said.

In Jammu, police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) carried out a coordinated rescue operation to save three boys who were trapped in the River Tawi near Peer Kho Temple after the water level increased unexpectedly.

According to officials, a distress call was received after the three boys, who had gone to bathe in the river, became stranded due to the sudden surge in water flow. The rescue teams safely evacuated Randeep Singh and Munish Sharma from Jammu city, along with Vikas Kumar from Bihar , and handed them over to their families.

Authorities urged residents to avoid riverbanks, particularly during periods of unstable weather conditions, as water levels in rivers and streams can rise rapidly. The warning comes amid forecasts of continued inclement weather in the region over the next few days .

In Rajouri district, the Indian Army, police and SDRF personnel conducted multiple rescue operations after flash floods affected several areas. Two boys trapped in the flooded Dhangri river and nine other people stranded in the Thanamandi area were rescued successfully.

The rescue efforts were supervised by Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma, SSP Gaurav Sikarwar and senior Army officers .

The Army’s White Knight Corps said its troops, along with SDRF teams and civil administration officials, carried out life-saving operations despite challenging conditions caused by strong currents and rising floodwaters.

The Army reported that 11 civilians, including five children , were rescued from different locations. Nine people stranded near a flooded nala in Chuurung village, south of Thanamandi, and two youths trapped on a river island in the Naushera Tawi near Dhangri were brought to safety.

Officials highlighted the importance of public caution during extreme weather conditions and advised people to stay away from water bodies to prevent further incidents.