"the last 48 hours have been a shocking eye opener,”

Jammu and Kashmir Rainfall News: Weather Update, Network, Rescue Relief Operation, Latest News: Severe weather conditions that have been wreaking havoc in Jammu and Kashmir from last few days have improved today, with the IMD (India Meteorological Department) downgrading the warning in the Union Territory to Yellow alert from Red alert, the Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in an update today. Mobile services, electricity, and water supply have been severely disrupted but are gradually being restored. This is the heaviest rainfall in the last 99 years. 

According to the update, heavy rainfall is expected in one or two isolated places over the areas of Jammu, Udhampur, and Doda for today and tomorrow (August 29). 
The weather is expected to improve further on 29th August over the entire Jammu & Kashmir.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh in a post on X, "Jammu and Kashmir Update: Here is a reassuring report from the IMD (India Meteorological Department). Yesterday's severe weather conditions have improved today over Jammu & Kashmir. The “Red Colour” warning has been downgraded to “Yellow Colour” for today and tomorrow. Only isolated heavy rainfall (one or two places) (7 to 11 cm in 24 hrs period) is expected over the areas of Jammu, Udhampur and Doda for today and tomorrow. The weather conditions will improve further on 29th August over the entire Jammu & Kashmir."

Meanwhile, due to a severely disrupted telecom network following torrential rainfall of the past few days and rainfall-related disasters, many were not able to connect to their loved ones living in Jammu division, not even being able to reach the public helpline number the administration has issued for each district of Jammu division. 

Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar was asked to restore public helplines on priority, so that with immediate effect, there could be at least one viable communication channel available which could convey the messages further on, Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed late last night.

Minister said, “I am receiving calls and messages from different parts of the country expressing concern at not being able to reach their families living in the Jammu division, nor being able to reach the helpline numbers posted on this handle this morning. This is so because of the severely disrupted telecom network in the region. Divisional Commissioner Jammu Sh Ramesh Kumar has been suggested to get the public helplines restored on priority, so that with immediate effect there could be atleast one viable communication channel available which could convey the messages further on. He says he shall try to get this done in the next one hour or so.”

He added, “Meanwhile, many an individual non-functioning mobile connections have started getting restored after around 4 pm today. As for electricity, nearly 40% has been restored but one can’t advise haste because there is waterlogged all over with an imminent risk of short circuit. The appeal to the public is to have patience, stay safe, and be reassured that every administrative functionary is on the job.”

Water levels of the River Tawi receded yesterday, the minister told the media. However, he said the River Chenab's water levels surpassed the danger mark, leading to significant structural damage, including the Tawi Bridge and the historic Madhupur Bridge.
“This is the heaviest rain in the last 99 years according to the India Meteorological Department," the minister added. 

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat, Jammu to assess the situation caused by incessant rainfall, which triggered flooding in several areas, rising water levels, and damage to life & property. 
CM Omar Abdullah directed officials to remain on high alert, ensure timely relief & rehabilitation, restore essential services, and take all measures to safeguard lives, while keeping constant communication with the public.

Omar Abdullah raised a few pointed questions after visiting one of the bridges over Tawi that was damaged in the floodwater. He said the last 48 hours have been ‘a shocking eye opener’

“Two photographs from the 2014 floods & two from 2025 floods. Almost the same spot & very similar damage. What if anything did we learn from the 2014 floods? What corrective steps were taken in the last 11 years? What flood mitigation measures were implemented since Oct 2014? These are all questions that the elected government will seek answers to because the last 48 hours have been a shocking eye opener,” CM wrote in  a post on X following the visit. 
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation. 

Chief Minister, in a separate post yesterday, shared how bad the communication is disrupted in the UT, stating, “Still struggling with almost nonexistent communication. There is a trickle of data flowing on Jio mobile, but no fixed line WiFi, no browsing, almost no apps, things like X open frustratingly slowly, and WhatsApp struggles with anything more than short text messages. Haven’t felt this disconnected since the terrible days of 2014 & 2019."

On 26 August, CM had spoken to  Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the phone to brief him about the situation in J&K. 

“Just spoke to the Union Home Minister @AmitShah ji on the phone to brief him about the situation in J&K, especially Jammu province, where heavy & continuous rains have caused a lot of damage and disruption to normal life. Efforts are being made to restore phone/data connectivity as soon as possible. The closure of Jammu airport stopped me & my colleagues from reaching Jammu this evening. I hope to be able to get there on the first flight tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m closely monitoring the situation & in touch with the teams on the ground in the division,” he had said. 

Katra Hotel Association Offers Free Accommodation

Katra Hotel Association has decided to provide free accommodations for all those in need, as many devotees on pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi are stranded in Katra. 

President, Katra Hotel Association, Rakesh Wazir told ANI, "The Hotel Association has decided that all the needy people will be given free accommodation for 2-4 days, till they want. Whoever is stuck here, we will provide them free accommodation. If they go to a hotel and it is full, they just need to call us at our control room, and we will allocate them a hotel so that no one can go without having darshan... The need at this time is that we stand with them in this hour of grief and support, and we are with them..."

(For more news apart from 'J&K News: Weather Improving, Network Being Restored, Heaviest Rainfall In 99 Years: Details ,' stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)