11 Dead, Dozens Missing as Flash Floods Ravage J&K's Rajouri and Poonch
At least 11 people have died and several others remain missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said. Multi-agency rescue operations are underway to locate the missing and assist affected families.
Within a short span, swollen rivers such as the Darhali, Khandli, Suktoh and Jamola breached their banks, inundating low-lying areas. The new bus stand in Rajouri town was destroyed, and dozens of vehicles were swept away or submerged. A woman’s body was also recovered from a river in Rajouri.
In Sangla village, four members of a family – Abdul Hameed, his wife Sharifa Begum, daughter Areeba and sister Manira Begum – are missing after their house was washed away. In Noonabandi village, 28-year-old Nazia Kousar died when her house collapsed. Shahzaib Ahmad (22) lost his life in a house collapse at Sanglani-Surankote. A minor girl, Iram, drowned in a stream at Marhote. An unidentified woman’s body was recovered from a stream near Dhundak Lathoong bridge.
In Poonch district’s Haveli tehsil, the collapse of nearly half-a-dozen houses left one person dead and another critically injured. Search teams have retrieved five bodies from debris so far, with efforts ongoing to trace the remaining missing persons.
Rescue and relief teams, supported by the local administration, worked through the night to evacuate affected families. A police control room has been activated to coordinate the response. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he has been tracking the situation since early Sunday and is in touch with local legislators. He emphasised that protecting lives remains the administration’s top priority and assured all possible aid to affected families.
The Meteorological Department has issued an advisory predicting moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir until July 23. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and set up control rooms to monitor the situation.
