SRINAGAR: Nine people were rescued on Wednesday in a joint operation by police, SDRF, and local volunteers after they were trapped in the Tawi river following a sudden rise in water level triggered by heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir, Daily Excelsior reported.
Among the rescued was Madan Lal (52), a labourer extracting sand near Jewel Chowk bridge around 8:45 am, who remained stranded for nearly two hours before SDRF personnel used a ladder to pull him to safety.
Eight others, including some performing religious rites, were also rescued during the multi-agency operation. Several horses trapped in the water were also saved, officials added.
Meanwhile, traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended for over three hours after mudslides blocked the road at Mehad and the T2 tunnel in Ramban around 6:30 am. Clearance operations restored movement by late morning.
According to the Meteorological Department, Katra recorded the highest rainfall at 108.5 mm in the past 24 hours, followed by Rajouri (80 mm), Udhampur (71.4 mm), Poonch (48 mm), and Ramban (47.5 mm). The weather office has forecast light to moderate rain, with chances of heavy rain in parts of Jammu division until June 27.
