Jammu Heavy Rains: House Collapses, Waterlogging Disrupts City
Heavy rains lashed Jammu and adjoining areas on Sunday, August 23, 2026, causing an abandoned house to collapse in the city and leading to extensive waterlogging that disrupted normal life, officials said.
The house, located at Shaheedi Chowk in the heart of the city, belonged to Rajni Salotra. She and her family had moved to rented accommodation a few months ago after cracks developed in the old structure. The building collapsed around 7:30 a.m. amid the downpour, damaging household items, officials said.
Residents noted that the incident could have resulted in casualties, as the lane is densely populated and witnesses regular footfall. However, there was little movement at the time due to the heavy rains, as most people remained indoors. They urged authorities to identify old, abandoned and structurally unsafe houses across the old city and take preventive measures before such structures collapse and cause loss of life.
"Such properties, including those under custodial ownership, need to be properly surveyed and assessed. Houses requiring urgent repairs should be repaired or otherwise secured to prevent accidents, particularly during the monsoon season," said Sanjay Kumar, a local resident, expressing concern over the recurring collapse of old houses in the city during monsoon every year.
Several parts of Jammu, including Tallab Tillo, Bagwati Nagar, Krishna Nagar and Canal Road, witnessed extensive waterlogging following the rainfall, with rainwater entering houses and shops. Residents expressed deep frustration over frequent flooding, saying that even relatively light rainfall leads to water accumulation. They urged the government to take the issue seriously and undertake a comprehensive assessment of drainage systems in flood-prone areas, particularly where rainwater repeatedly enters homes and shops, and to take immediate measures to improve drainage.
The widespread waterlogging disrupted traffic movement at several points across the city, causing inconvenience to commuters and residents. Severe waterlogging was reported on the Jammu-Poonch National Highway near Bhagwati Nagar, the Jammu-RS Pura road near Kulliyan and Bajalta Road.
Traffic on the Jammu-Kishtwar National Highway was suspended after a mudslide triggered by heavy rains blocked the road at Ragi Nallah. Restoration work was underway to clear the affected stretch. Reports of flash floods were also received from the Thathri area of Doda district, though there were no reports of any damage, officials said.
According to officials, Jammu city recorded the highest rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir during the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, receiving 66 mm, followed by Udhampur (56 mm), Poonch (45 mm), Kokernag (42 mm) and Qazigund (32.6 mm).
The local Meteorological Centre has forecast generally cloudy weather on Sunday, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places. From August 24 to 28, the weather is expected to remain generally hot and humid, with brief spells of rain or thundershowers at scattered places, mainly during early morning and afternoon hours. From August 29 to 31, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at scattered to many places, with brief intense showers mainly in the Jammu division during early morning and afternoon hours.
The weather office has cautioned that intense localised showers may trigger flash floods, mudslides and landslides.
