JAMMU, JULY 19: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday announced that he would cut short his stay in New Delhi and return to Jammu in the afternoon to personally monitor the situation arising from heavy rainfall and flash floods across parts of the Jammu division.
Several areas of the division, particularly Rajouri, have been severely affected by incessant rains. Officials said Rajouri town witnessed flash flooding after overnight downpours caused water levels to rise sharply, inundating low-lying localities and forcing hundreds of residents to move to safer places.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said he had been closely monitoring the situation since early morning and remained in touch with local legislators and officials from the affected areas.
Abdullah said the seriousness of the situation, coupled with the weather advisory issued by the Meteorological Department, had prompted him to return to Jammu to oversee developments on the ground.
He stressed that the administration’s immediate priority was to protect lives and provide all possible assistance to families affected by the heavy rains and flash floods.
The Chief Minister also assured that the government would extend support to people who had suffered damage to their homes and other property due to the adverse weather conditions.
The situation in Rajouri and surrounding areas continued to remain under close watch, with authorities engaged in relief and evacuation measures in vulnerable locations.
Despite his return to Jammu, Abdullah said the National Conference’s planned protest in New Delhi on July 20, demanding restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, would proceed as scheduled under the leadership of party president Dr Farooq Abdullah.