The water level of the Chenab river has increased in the Akhnoor region of Jammu and Kashmir. A video footage released by news agency ANI shows heavy rainfall led to a surge in water level, which has now gone close to the danger limit. Watch the video here.
A State Disaster Response Fund official told ANI that the force has been instructed to keep a watch on water levels and ensured that local residents are not being allowed to come near the river.
This comes a day after the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed cloudbursts following incessant rains in the area. the incident claimed at least five lives and about 25 people were missing as of Wednesday.
Rescue teams were rushed to Honzar village of Dacchan tehsil where operations were conducted by SDRF and Indian Air Force authorities for lifting the injured in incidents.
Another cloudburst was reported near the Amarnath cave in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening. The officials asked people in and around the cave to move to higher ground for safety. No loss of life or injury has been reported as of yet.
The video of the cloudburst shows massive volumes of water rushing down from the mountains near the holy cave. A rescue team has been rushed to the cloudburst-hit area.
The tragedy could have been bigger if the Amarnath Yatra was on. The pilgrimage was cancelled for a second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not many people stay around the shrine except for the security forces, whose camps are located at the base of the hill that leads to the cave.
The 56-day Amarnath Yatra was scheduled to start simultaneously on the only two routes from June 28 and end on Raksha Bandhan, August 22, but was cancelled due to the pandemic situation.
“The meteorological department has predicted heavy rains during the upcoming days and water levels in rivers and nallas are expected to rise, which can pose a threat to the inhabitants residing near rivers, nallas, water bodies and slide-prone areas,” the district administration said in an advisory issued late on Tuesday night.
