Continuous heavy rainfall has been witnessed in several parts of Jammu & Kashmir, with rivers swelling and flash flood-like conditions reported across multiple districts.
The gates of the Salal Dam in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district have been opened due to the continuous rise in water levels in the Chenab River, following heavy rainfall in the region.
A raging Ravi River breached the banks in the Lakhanpur area of Kathua after all gates of the Ranjit Sagar Dam on the river were opened as the water level increased due to heavy rainfall.
Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh said that apart from the rise of water in the Chenab river, reports of cloud burst had also been received, which lead to washing away of National Highway 244.
The Centre has invited tenders for the construction of the 1,856 MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab river near Sidhu village in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier on Tuesday, in view of the continuous heavy rainfall in the Reasi region, the authorities opened all the gates of the Salal Dam to regulate the rising water level of the Chenab River.
The District Administration Ramban issued a weather advisory on Tuesday, following an alert from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across the district from July 21 to July 24.
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), in coordination with the local administration, issued advisories warning about the increasing water level. As a precaution, river rafting activities have been suspended, and authorities are monitoring the situation.
Residents living in low-lying areas along the Chenab River, including Talwada, Kansi Patta, Thanpal, Chinka, Gujrkothi, and Jendi, have been alerted about the rising water level.
Authorities have opened multiple spillway gates of the Salal Dam in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district due to a continuous rise in water levels in the Chenab River following heavy rainfall in the region.