45 IIIM Students Trapped in Flooded Hostel—Heroic Rescue in Jammu!

A joint operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police successfully evacuated 45 students from the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) hostel in Jammu on Sunday after flash floods inundated the ground floor of the complex. Triggered by heavy rainfall, the floodwaters, exceeding seven feet, surged into the hostel buildings from an overflowing canal, prompting a swift response from authorities.

The rescue effort, which spanned over five hours, involved SDRF and police teams deploying boats to safely extract the trapped students. Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of IIIM, an autonomous body under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), assured that alternative accommodation arrangements have been made for the students. “We have enough resources to ensure the students’ safety,” Dr. Ahmed stated, expressing gratitude to the SDRF and police for their assistance. He added that the institute mobilized dewatering pumps and other resources as floodwaters began accumulating.

Students on the ground floor faced significant losses, with personal belongings damaged as they hurriedly relocated to upper floors. S.R. Choudhary, a student residing on the top floor, recounted, “Those on the ground floor shifted upstairs immediately, leaving their possessions behind, and we waited hours for rescue.” The institute has urged calm, emphasizing that the situation is under control.

Also Read: Students Rise Up: Mass Protest Demands Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants!

The heavy rainfall also caused widespread disruption in Jammu, with a road near Tawi bridge collapsing and a culvert at the Jammu bus stand exit giving way. Overflowing streams and drains worsened conditions in low-lying areas, flooding homes, damaging boundary walls, and affecting dozens of vehicles.

Also Read: Students Detained in Fiery Protest Against Bihar Voter Roll Revision