SRINAGAR: Jammu recorded 185.6 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, setting a new all-time record for October and surpassing the previous high of 160 mm recorded on October 5, 1955, according to data shared by an independent weather forecasting channel.
The intense rainfall on Sunday disrupted normal life across several parts of the city, flooding roads and residential areas, damaging vehicles and triggering landslides. A 27-year-old woman went missing in the Raipur Domana area after being swept away by flash floodwaters while crossing a road with her husband, a local resident said.
The man was rescued, but the woman remained untraced, prompting police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to launch a search operation, officials said.
Rain began around 8.30 am and continued for more than three hours, leaving several major roads waterlogged and affecting traffic movement. Water also entered houses and shops in several localities.
Panjtirthi, Nagrota, Roop Nagar, Dogra Chowk, Durga Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Bantalab and Raipur Domana were among the areas badly affected by the downpour, officials said.
Residents reported damage to cars and two-wheelers as water accumulated on roads and entered residential and commercial premises. Videos circulated on social media showed water rushing through narrow lanes and inundating roads and buildings.
Landslides were reported along the Panjtirthi-Sidrah and Sidrah-Nagrota road stretches, disrupting vehicular movement and causing traffic congestion. Authorities deployed personnel and machinery to clear the debris and restore traffic on the affected routes, officials said.
Commuters were advised to exercise caution on vulnerable stretches because of unstable slopes and slippery road conditions.
The downpour also brought down the maximum temperature to 23.3°C, nine degrees below normal.
The Meteorological Centre had forecast heavy rainfall in the Jammu division until Sunday evening, followed by an improvement in weather conditions.
