Flash floods and landslides kill 4 in Jammu and Kashmir; several missing

At least four people were killed and several others are missing after heavy rain, flash floods, and landslides struck the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, authorities said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in New Delhi to participate in a protest demanding the restoration of statehood, announced he would return to Jammu in view of the disaster. He expressed grief over the loss of lives and said that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and other agencies were engaged in relief and rescue operations.

Officials identified one of the deceased as Nazia Kousar, 28, who died when her house collapsed in Noonabandi village in Surankote area. Her husband and three children, aged two to six, were rescued from under the debris and taken to a hospital.

In Marhote, a minor girl was reportedly swept away in a nullah. The body of an unidentified woman was recovered from a stream near Dhundak Lathoong bridge. In Lower Murrah, six members of a family are missing after a landslide hit their house. Rescue teams have reached the spot and are searching for the victims.

In Rajouri town, flash floods caused widespread damage to property and vehicles. Hundreds of families living in Bella Colony, situated on the river bed, were evacuated as flood waters entered their homes. A large number of mini buses were washed away from a parking area set up by the administration on the river bank.

Authorities have made arrangements for the affected families at safer places. In view of the weather conditions, the Amarnath Yatra convoy from Jammu towards Kashmir was cancelled, and the yatra to Shiv Khori in Reasi district was suspended. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board also temporarily suspended the yatra to the shrine in Trikuta Hills.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he spoke to senior officials and reviewed the situation. Rescue teams from the civil administration, police, Army, SDRF, and local volunteers are actively working. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives. My heart goes out to the grieving families. The heavy rains have also damaged several homes. I have directed officials to provide immediate aid to all affected families and ensured that emergency teams remain fully prepared,” he said.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Jammu division have sounded an alert following a sharp rise in the water level of the Chenab River and several streams. All gates of the Salal Hydroelectric Project in Reasi remained open for the second consecutive day as part of reservoir flushing, increasing discharge downstream.