Jammu Tawi, Sep 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Government worked round-the-clock to restore water supply in Jammu after devastating floods caused massive damage to infrastructure, officials said Monday.
The calamity, triggered by the heaviest rainfall in nearly a century, pushed the Tawi River to 34 feet—higher than the 2014 floods—and badly affected the Tawi Water Treatment Plant. Landslides on the Panjtirthi–Sidhra road damaged over 500 metres of the Sitlee–Lohar and Sitlee–Manda pipelines, disrupting supply to Old City, Janipur, Rehari, New Plot, Subhash Nagar, Sarwal, Chinore and Roop Nagar.
A rising main feeding the Boria Water Filtration Plant was destroyed along with its pump room, transformer and control panels, while heavy silt choked the Boria and Dhounthly plants. Sections of 500 mm and 600 mm-diameter mains were washed away or left hanging, further crippling supply.
Once approach roads were cleared, men and machinery were deployed. Since repairs along the old alignment were not feasible, rising mains were re-laid with 600 mm MS casing pipes. The Jal Shakti Department mobilised engineers, cranes, welding sets and generators, while skilled labour from neighbouring states worked in sliding zones to restore the pipelines.
Despite continuous rains, rehabilitation began within 24 hours. Partial restoration through Sitlee, Lohar and Dhounthly was achieved within a week. Power supply was also restored, bringing 70 per cent of tubewells back online in 48 hours and the rest in 72 hours. By September 6, production had improved from 39 MGD to 50 MGD against a pre-flood demand of 62 MGD.
While Jal Shakti focused on water production, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) managed distribution. To meet shortages, JMC deployed tanker services across the city. Deputy Commissioner Jammu inducted 90 additional tankers and, under Section 163 of BNSS, regulated private operators and borewell filling.
Within six days, nearly 5,000 tanker trips were made to hospitals, old age homes, police stations, community centres and residential areas—free of cost. Officials said emergency measures ensured at least half the city’s potable water needs were met until full restoration.
