JAMMU: A joint team of J&K Police and SDRF rescued two individuals stranded in the Tawi near Prambli, in Jammu’s Phallian mandal, following a sudden rise in the river’s water level Thursday, even as the Army launched relief and evacuation operations in rain-hit Reasi and Rajouri districts.The duo — Farman Ali (25) from Allora and Farooq Ahmed (28) of Sohanjana — had gone to graze cattle near the river when its water level swelled, leaving them trapped in the middle of the river.After torrential rain triggered landslides and led to the rise in the water level of Arnas river in Reasi, Army troops assisted civilians residing in low-lying areas to move to safer locations, established temporary shelters and provided hot meals, essential supplies, and necessary medical relief in affected areas, defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said Thursday, adding that a quick reaction team was on standby to respond to any contingency.On receiving information about a civilian suffering from severe dehydration in Panjnara-Peeri area of Rajouri, Army personnel reached the location and conducted a medical assessment before administering first aid, including intravenous fluids, to stabilise the patient’s condition and prevent further deterioration. Following initial treatment, the Army team facilitated the patient’s evacuation for further medical examination and specialised care, Lt Col Bartwal said.A multi-agency operation to trace seven missing people in Murrah, Chang Nallah in Poonch’s Surankote entered the fifth day as round-the-clock searches continued Thursday too. A separate operation to trace a missing employee of the Jal Shakti department also remained underway.Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed for the second consecutive day Thursday. The 250-km NH, the only all-weather path linking J&K with the rest of India, was blocked at multiple places due to rain-triggered landslides, shooting stones, and road erosion between Jakhani in Udhampur district and Banihal in Ramban district.More than 600 vehicles remained stranded in different stretches of the NH, including Ramban, Nagrota, Jammu, Udhampur, Lakhanpur and Samba, due to the closure. Officials said restoration work was underway, but continuous rainfall was hampering repair and clearance efforts. J&K traffic police issued an advisory urging commuters to avoid travelling on the highway until the road is declared clear and safe for traffic.Additionally, over a dozen inter-district roads, including the Doda-Kishtwar road, remained closed due to landslides, mudslides, and erosion. All major pilgrimages — including Amarnath Yatra, Vaishno Devi Yatra, Sarthal Mata Yatra and Machail Mata Yatra — have remained suspended in J&K since July 19. So far, the twin frontier districts of Rajouri-Poonch have lost property worth hundreds of crores to rain-linked destruction. More than 100 vehicles have been washed away, although Army teams have managed to recover a few.
