Incessant rains lash parts of Jammu; army camp wall collapses in Rajouri

Three private cars were damaged after a 10-foot boundary wall of an army camp collapsed in Rajouri district amid incessant rains which lashed parts of Jammu region for the second day on Tuesday, triggering landslides at several places and increasing water level in rivers and streams, officials said.

Though there was no immediate threat of flash floods, schools in Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts remained closed for the day as a precautionary measure, the officials said.

On Monday, landslides struck Vaishno Devi track in Reasi and a school building in Poonch, resulting in the killing of two persons -- a pilgrim and a minor student -- and injuries to several others including a police officer.

The weather office has forecast moderate to heavy rains at different places in Jammu and Kashmir till Thursday, prompting administrations of various districts to issue advisories asking people to stay away from the swollen water bodies and landslide prone areas.

The officials said a portion of the boundary wall of an army camp collapsed near a bus stand in Rajouri owing to heavy rains, resulting in damage to three parked cars including a sports utility vehicle belonging to civilians.

An earth mover engaged in road widening work along Jammu-Poonch highway near Irwan Khanetar was damaged when it fell down into a gorge after earth beneath it caved-in, the officials said.

Landslides triggered by rains also briefly blocked Jammu-Poonch national highway and several interior roads in both Rajouri and Poonch districts, while a culvert was washed away in Chatral-Mendhar, snapping road connectivity to nearly half-a-dozen remote villages, they said.

A petrol pump was also damaged in Poonch.

According to the meteorological office, Katra town — the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district — recorded the highest rainfall of 102.1 mm during the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am, while Jammu logged 92.9 mm and Kathua 37.4 mm of rainfall during the same period.

In its advisory, the weather office said there is a possibility of intense showers, gusty winds, heavy to very heavy rain at isolated to scattered places during 22-24 July, leading to flash floods with landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at few vulnerable places.