Jammu/srinagar, Aug. 25 -- Overnight heavy rains that lashed Jammu region, inundated low lying areas, damaged several houses, roads, electricity poles and a vital bridge over Sahar Khad in Kathua on Jammu-Pathankot national highway on Sunday morning, said officials. Overnight rains were recorded across Jammu and Kashmir which continued on Sunday morning as well. In the past 24 hours till 8.30 am on Sunday, Jammu district received 190.4 mm rainfall, followed by 115.4 in Katra and 90 mm rainfall in Kathua district. The meteorological centre in Srinagar said that 194.5 mm rains were recorded in Jammu city from Saturday evening till Sunday evening (5:30 pm) while Katra recorded 121.4 mm rains. MeT Srinagar director Mukhtar ahmed said that this was the highest August rainfall recorded since 1996. "It is the second-highest August rainfall recorded in around 30 years," he said. A pillar beneath a bridge over Sahar Khad near Kalibari on Jammu-Kathua national highway (NH 44) in Kathua district tilted from its foundation this morning due to heavy rains in the rivulet. "After some time the bridge also slanted. Traffic movement was diverted to adjoining bridge and then diverted to safer route," said a police officer. Similarly, heavy rainfall triggered a landslide on Kishtwar-Padder road near Pathernaki some 32 kms from Kishtwar. "Efforts are on to clear the landslide as several high rank officials were in Padder," said the officer. At Indian Institute of Integrated Medicines (IIM) at Canal Road in Jammu city, girls' hostel was inundated. "Ground floor of the hostel was submerged in the rain water compelling the students to take refuge on higher floors to save themselves. Later, SDRF personnel used boats and rescued 45 students," said a police officer. The rescue operation continued for more than five hours and all the trapped students were evacuated.bIIM director Dr Zabeer Ahmed said the institute has made arrangements for the safe stay of the students. Thanking police and SDRF for their assistance in evacuating the students, he said there was no need to panic. "We had enough alternative arrangements to provide accommodation to students," he said, adding as the floodwaters started collecting in the ground floor, the institute mobilised all resources, including dewatering pumps for the safety of the students. A culvert on the exit gate of Jammu bus stand also collapsed owing to the heavy rainfall. The directorate of school education, Jammu, on Sunday ordered the closure of all schools in the Jammu division for August 25--Monday-- in view of inclement weather conditions. According to the order issued by the joint director Mushtaq Ahmed, both government and private schools across Jammu division will remain closed on Monday. Heavy overnight rains in Jammu and moderate showers in Kashmir triggered a flood like situation in parts of the Union territory on Sunday prompting chief minister Omar Abdullah to issue a high alert to all departments. Kashmir valley received light to moderate rains with summer capital Srinagar recording rainfall of 14.8 mm. Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a maximum of 46 mm rains while Gulmarg in north Kashmir received 45 mm rainfall. Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday visited GMC Jammu and met the victims of the cloudburst that hit Chishoti village in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on August 15, said officials. The massive cloudburst claimed 65 lives, largely pilgrims of Chandi Mata Mandir in Padder, while 32 remain missing However, the defence minister couldn't go to Chishoti to personally assess the extent of damage and take stock of rescue operations due to inclement weather. "Visited Jammu Medical College and met those who were injured due to cloudburst and flashfloods at Chishoti in Kishtwar. Praying for the speedy recovery of all the injured. LG Manoj Sinha and MoS in Union government Dr Jitendra Singh accompanied me during the visit," he posted on X. "Due to inclement weather, I could not go to the cloud burst affected areas of Kishtwar today. Reviewed the situation at Chishoti from Jammu, via video conferencing facility. It is heartening to note that the state administration, army, NDRF, SDRF, J&K Police have done excellent work during the crisis situation," he wrote further. "Around 32 people are still missing. Searches are still on to trace the missing pilgrims. Relief and rehabilitation measures have been initiated, and so far Rs.4.13 crore has been disbursed among the affected families," said LG Sinha added. Leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly Sunil Sharma said that he briefed Rajnath Singh, Sinha and Jitendra Singh via video conferencing, with administrative officers present, on the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in Chishoti village....