Schools, colleges to resume on Monday
Officials urge caution in erosion-hit areas; Over 3,700 vehicles stranded
Jammu–Srinagar NH likely to reopen today: Div Com Jammu
Rainfall subsides, IMD predicts dry weather across J&K
Srinagar, Sept 05: The flood situation across the Kashmir Valley eased on Friday as water levels in the Jhelum and its tributaries receded below the danger mark, following an improvement in weather conditions.
Officials said the situation is now under control, though close monitoring continues in vulnerable areas. The Meteorological Department reported only light rainfall over the past 24 hours, allowing steady decline in water levels. A forecast of mainly dry weather across Jammu and Kashmir over the next 24 hours, with only isolated chances of light rain, is expected to aid ongoing restoration efforts.
Despite the improvement, authorities have urged residents, especially those in flood-affected areas, to remain cautious.
“There is no need to panic, but vigilance is important. All departments remain on alert, and teams are deployed for any eventuality,” an official from the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department said.
At key gauging stations, Sangam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar, the Jhelum was flowing below the danger level. While water levels remained marginally above the red mark in some pockets, the overall trend continued to decline.
“All tributaries of the Jhelum are below danger levels, and no fresh breaches have been reported overnight,” the I&FC official added.
Inundated areas across the Valley also began to see water recede, though some localities remained waterlogged. In north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, the level of Wular Lake dropped, easing concerns of fresh flooding.
Authorities said precautionary evacuations and preventive measures had already been carried out in the most vulnerable spots. In Anantnag district, several riverside structures were damaged by soil erosion triggered by fast-moving currents. Residents of Naidkhun and Harnag were asked to vacate homes weakened by the floodwaters.
As a precautionary measure, all educational institutions in the Valley remained closed for the third consecutive day on Friday. The Director of School Education, Kashmir, announced that classwork in all government and private schools would resume from Monday, following safety inspections and sanitisation.
“Several school buildings were submerged or partially damaged during the recent floods and windstorms. It is imperative to ensure safety before classes resume,” the official order stated.
Heads of institutions have been directed to thoroughly clean and sanitise classrooms to provide a safe environment for returning students.
Similarly, the Director of Colleges extended the suspension of classwork in all government degree colleges across Jammu and Kashmir until Saturday. Classes there are also scheduled to resume on Monday.
The vital 270-kilometre Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed for the fourth straight day on Friday due to landslides, mudslides, and road cave-ins triggered by heavy rains.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, who inspected the damage and restoration work in Udhampur district, said efforts are underway to restore the highway for traffic by Saturday morning. “We are trying to reopen the highway by tomorrow so that essential supplies can be moved to the Valley. Efforts are on,” he told reporters during the visit to Thard, a severely affected stretch.
Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) briefed the Divisional Commissioner on the progress, revealing that nearly 200 metres of the highway at Thard has been damaged due to a massive hill slip. Another major landslide has entered one tube of the Peerah tunnel, further complicating restoration work. In Udhampur, approximately 10 km of road between Jakhani, Thard, Bali Nallah, and Dewal has sustained extensive damage.
NHAI teams have deployed men and machinery on a war footing to clear debris and stabilize the road. Over 3,700 vehicles, including trucks carrying essential supplies, remain stranded at various points across Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, and the Valley. Once the road reopens, clearance of essential supplies will be prioritized.
A traffic advisory issued on Friday stated: “The highway remains closed for vehicular movement from Jakheni (Udhampur) to Srinagar and vice versa due to blockages between Jakheni and Bali Nallah. No movement shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, and Srinagar until further notice.”
Meanwhile, the Mughal Road, connecting Poonch in Jammu with Shopian in south Kashmir, was reopened after a four-day closure. Light motor vehicles, including passenger cars, are now being allowed from both directions. However, movement of heavy vehicles has been restricted to six-tyre trucks from Poonch towards Shopian.
Other key routes, including the Jammu–Rajouri–Poonch highway, which was blocked for three days, have also been cleared and reopened for traffic. The Sinthan Road, however, remains shut due to landslides and falling rocks.
