DH NEWS SERVICE
RAJOURI, Jul 23
District Magistrate Rajouri Abhishek Sharma has prohibited public and vehicular movement and suspended all construction activity in flood-affected Bela Market and Bela Colony following severe flooding caused by the Rajouri Tawi River during the intervening night of July 18–19, 2026.
The order, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, read with relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, follows technical assessments by the Irrigation and Flood Control Division. GPS-based mapping and geo-referenced inundation data confirmed that floodwaters extended beyond the normal riverbank, causing erosion, land instability and a continued threat to life and property.
Entry, movement and assembly by unauthorised persons and civilian vehicles in the notified areas stand prohibited with immediate effect.All construction-related activities, including excavation, earth-filling, foundation work, erection or repair of structures, dumping of material, deployment of machinery and any alteration in land use, have been suspended. No such activity may be undertaken without written permission from the District Magistrate and clearance from the competent technical authorities.
The restrictions will remain until hydrological, hydraulic and land-use assessments are completed and vulnerable zones scientifically demarcated.
The District Administration has directed barricading of all approach roads, link roads and pedestrian tracks leading to hazardous stretches along the Rajouri Tawi River. Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Tehsildar Rajouri and the engineering departments concerned have been instructed to jointly demarcate the inundation zone, identify ongoing construction works, issue stop-work directions wherever necessary and submit a compliance report within 24 hours.
Emergency and relief personnel, Police, SDRF, NDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, medical teams, Executive Magistrates and other authorised agencies remain exempted.
Senior Superintendent of Police Rajouri has been directed to enforce the order through police deployment, checkpoints and joint Revenue–Police patrols.
The order is effective immediately and shall remain operative for 60 days unless modified or rescinded earlier.
The District Administration has appealed to the public to cooperate with the authorities in the interest of safety.
