Jammu, Jun 25, June 25 -- In a dramatic rescue operation on Wednesday morning, nine people, including a labourer and pilgrims performing religious rites, were pulled to safety after being trapped in the swollen waters of the Tawi river in Jammu. The rescue, carried out jointly by the police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), followed a sudden rise in water level caused by heavy rainfall across many parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to officials, 52-year-old Madan Lal, who had ventured into the river near Jewel Chowk for sand extraction around 8:45 am, was left stranded as the river suddenly surged. He remained trapped for nearly two hours before SDRF personnel managed to rescue him using a ladder lowered from the bridge above....