Source: NIE
Context: Nine individuals, including pilgrims and labourers, were rescued from the Tawi River in Jammu after a sudden flash flood caused by heavy rainfall.
About Tawi River:
- Origin:
- The Tawi River flows through Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and later enters Pakistan-administered territory.
- It originates from the Kailash Kund glacier (Kali Kund) near Bhaderwah in Doda district.
- States/Regions It Flows Through:
- Primarily flows through Doda, Udhampur, and Jammu districts.
- Crosses into Pakistan’s Punjab, eventually joining the Chenab River.
- Tributary Status: Tawi is a left-bank tributary of the Chenab River, a key river in the Indus River System.
- Key Features:
- Length: 141 km.
- Catchment area: 2168 km² up to the Indian border.
- Major tributaries include Raji, Gou Karan, and seasonal streams supporting perennial flow.
- Significance:
- Lifeline of Jammu: Main source of water for the city.
- Religious Importance: Revered as Surya Putri (Daughter of the Sun God) in Hindu texts like Vishnudharmottara Purana.
- Linked to local legends of Raja Pehar Devta who brought the river to cure his father.
- Supported forts like Bahu Fort and temples, earning Jammu the title “City of Temples”.
- Development Projects:
- The government is constructing an artificial lake at Bhagwati Nagar to boost tourism and water supply.
- Project is under observation to comply with the Indus Water Treaty.
