Daijiworld Media Network – Jammu
Jammu, Jul 19: At least 11 people were killed and seven others remain missing after flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall caused widespread devastation in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
Continuous rain since Saturday night triggered landslides, house collapses and overflowing rivers, leaving several villages cut off and damaging roads. Rescue teams have launched extensive operations to trace the missing and evacuate stranded residents.
Officials said Surankote tehsil in Poonch district was the worst-affected area, accounting for most of the fatalities.
One of the worst incidents occurred in Lower Murrah village, where a landslide caused a house to collapse. Five members of a family, including two-year-old Sofian Yasar, were killed, while rescue teams continued searching for the remaining missing occupants.
In Sangla village, flash floods swept away another house, leaving four members of a family missing. They have been identified as Abdul Hameed, his wife Sharifa Begum, daughter Areeba and sister Manira Begum.
Twenty-eight-year-old Nazia Kousar was killed when her house collapsed in Noonabandi village. Her husband and three young children sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital.
A 22-year-old man, Shahzaib Ahmad, also died after his house collapsed in Sanglani. A minor girl drowned in a stream at Marhote, while the body of an unidentified woman was recovered from a stream near the Dhundak Lathoong bridge. In Haveli tehsil, another person was killed and one sustained critical injuries after several houses collapsed.
Neighbouring Rajouri district also witnessed extensive flooding after rivers overflowed following incessant rain. Floodwaters entered residential colonies and low-lying areas, forcing hundreds of residents to move to safer locations. Several vehicles were washed away after flood protection walls collapsed, while the body of another woman was recovered from a river in Rajouri town.
Officials said the assessment of damage to houses, roads and public infrastructure was underway.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cut short his visit to New Delhi and returned to Jammu to oversee relief operations. He said safeguarding lives remained the administration's top priority and assured affected families of all possible assistance.
"In light of the weather warning put out by the meteorological department and the seriousness of the situation unfolding across parts of Jammu division, I will leave Delhi to fly to Jammu this afternoon to personally monitor the situation on the ground," Abdullah said in a post on X.
He added that he had been monitoring the situation since early morning and was in constant touch with local legislators.
"The first priority of the administration is to safeguard precious lives. The government will do everything possible to aid and assist affected people who have suffered property loss or damage due to the rains and flash floods," he said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the rescue operations and directed officials to expedite relief measures in the affected districts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Sinha and Abdullah to review the situation and assured them of all possible assistance from the Centre for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir until July 23. Authorities have placed disaster response teams on alert as rescue and relief operations continue in the affected areas.