Relentless rain battered Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi and Rajouri districts on Tuesday, putting local authorities on high alert. In Reasi, the Chenab river rose so fast that the reservoir behind the Salal dam filled up rapidly, leaving officials with no choice but to open every gate of the dam to ease the pressure and keep the reservoir safe.
Rising Water Forces Every Gate of Salal Dam Open
For several hours straight, Reasi saw continuous, heavy downpours rather than intermittent showers. That sent a surge of runoff from the surrounding hills into the Chenab, and the Salal dam's reservoir level climbed toward the danger mark within a short span. To bring the situation under control, dam authorities decided on Tuesday to open all the gates at once so the excess water could be discharged in a managed way. The moment the gates opened, both the volume and the speed of the Chenab's flow jumped sharply, leaving the river in full spate.
Warning for Those Living Near the Riverbank
Once the extra water was released, the administration's biggest worry shifted to people settled along the riverbank and in low-lying pockets nearby. Officials have urged residents not to venture close to the Chenab without good reason and to keep their distance from its banks. They said the region has seen days of continuous rain with no sign of letting up, which is why weather patterns and the river's level are being tracked around the clock, so that any emergency can be handled before it spirals out of control.
Rajouri Also Battered by Heavy Rain, Police on Alert
Separately, Rajouri district began receiving intense rainfall early on Tuesday morning. Given how heavy the rain was, both the district administration and the Rajouri Police moved quickly to issue an advisory for residents. The police warned that the continuing downpour could cause river levels across the district to rise sharply in a very short time, and appealed to people to stay alert and follow every safety instruction issued by the authorities.
What Residents Have Been Told to Do
Officials fear that if the rain keeps falling at this pace, river levels could climb even faster, potentially triggering flash floods, landslides and waterlogging. With that risk in mind, the Rajouri district administration has asked people to step out of their homes only when absolutely necessary during the rain, and to stay well away from rivers, drains and flood-prone stretches. Residents have also been told never to attempt crossing roads or bridges that are already submerged, and instead to rely on the weather updates and directions the administration keeps issuing.
The administration has repeated that people should stay indoors unless it is truly essential to go out, and should cooperate fully with local officials. Anyone facing an emergency has been asked to reach out to the local administration or emergency services without delay. Overall, the heavy rain continues to disrupt normal life across several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, and authorities say they are watching the situation on every front.
