An advanced survey team from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday arrived in Jammu to assess the rain, flood, and landslide-affected areas and prepare a detailed report on the damage caused, officials said.
The team’s visit follows directions from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has asked the ministry to leverage data analytics and artificial intelligence in its assessment. During his visit to Jammu on September 1, Shah instructed the MHA to work closely with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to study the causes of the calamity.
The IMD and NDMA have been tasked with examining the link between cloudbursts in the Jammu division and moisture content in clouds, identifying root causes, and setting up an early warning system. Shah also stressed the need for a critical review of all Early Warning Apps (EWAs), their accuracy, and their outreach to the grassroots level.
During his visit, the Home Minister met flood-affected residents in Mangu Chak village and inspected damaged sites, including the Tawi Bridge at Bikram Chowk, a local temple, and nearby homes. He later chaired a high-level review meeting on the situation and announced that a joint meeting of central and UT departments, along with the Union Home Secretary, would be convened within days.
Relief and rescue operations continue across the region. Over 5,000 people have been evacuated to safer locations. Seventeen NDRF teams, 23 Army columns, Indian Air Force helicopters, the UT Disaster Response Force, J&K Police, and Central Armed Police Forces remain engaged in rescue and assistance efforts.