Swollen Chenab floods Akhnoor areas, over 100 people rescued

Jammu, Aug 27: The overflowing Chenab River caused widespread flooding in parts of the Akhnoor subdivision, submerging homes and farmland and prompting large-scale rescue operations.

A number of rescue teams of police, NDRF, SDRF, and the Indian Army, BSF, assisted by locals and along with civil administration officials, were stationed in areas of Akhnoor and responding to distress calls.

Officials said that after the Chenab River crossed the marks of danger with evacuation in full flow, the river water entered many areas, even submerging the human habitations, with dozens of houses getting submerged in water.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Jammu Rural, Brijesh Sharma said that at Fatu Kotli in the Garkhal area of Akhnoor, overflowing water of the Chenab River got diverted and entered areas alongside the bank towards Garkhal.

He said that hundreds of Kanals of fields, including paddy fields, were submerged under water.

At Indri Point in the Khour police station jurisdiction of Akhnoor, SP Rural Brijesh Sharma said fifty to sixty houses were submerged in water and people living inside were evacuated to safer places.

He stated that in multiple rescue operations conducted since Wednesday morning, around one hundred to one hundred ten people were rescued from water currents, which included sixteen nomads (Gujjars) rescued at Balle Bagh in Akhnoor and twenty people at Jourian.

"Our rescue teams are stationed in areas and responding to every distress call. Although water in the Chenab River has receded to some extent, we will maintain high surveillance and preparations till the situation becomes completely normal." SP Brijesh Sharma further said.