Flash flood alert in Jammu, people evacuated

As heavy rains lashed Jammu region, authorities sounded an alert about the possibility of flash floods and evacuated people living near swollen rivers on Sunday.

There was possibility of flash floods in rivers Tawi, Ujh, Basantar and Ravi which were flowing above the red mark, officials said.

People were told not to venture out near the rivers, which were in spate, they said.

Residents living near the rivers had been evacuated to safer places, the officials said adding over 250 houses in eight villages had been damaged by recent floods, triggered by torrential rains, in the divison.

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand visited the flood-hit areas and assessed the damage on Sunday.

He interacted with people hit by the flood fury and directed authorities to provide 35-kg free ration to each family.