Deadly Rains Batter Poonch-Rajouri: Eight Dead, Six Missing as Families Are Buried and Rescue Teams Race Against Time

• Eight Dead, Six Missing as Heavy Rains Trigger Flash Floods and Landslides in Poonch, Rajouri

JAMMU, JULY 19: At least eight people lost their lives and six others were reported missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods, landslides and house collapses in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction and prompting massive rescue and relief operations.

Surankote tehsil in Poonch district bore the brunt of the disaster, with several deaths reported from rain-related incidents. Rescue teams were pressed into service at multiple locations as continuous rainfall, damaged roads and difficult terrain hampered operations.

In Lower Murrah village of Surankote, a landslide struck a residential house during the early hours of Sunday, burying all eight occupants under the debris. Officials said the bodies of 60-year-old Bano Bi and two-year-old Sofian Yasar were recovered, while efforts were underway to trace six others who remained missing, including a woman and four children.

At Noonabandi village, 28-year-old Nazia Kousar was killed after her house collapsed. Her husband, Mohd Hafiz, and their three young children, aged between two and six years, were rescued with injuries and shifted to hospital.

Another young man, identified as 22-year-old Shahzaib Ahmad, died after his house collapsed at Sanglani-Surankote.

A minor girl, Iram, 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 of Poonch, one person was killed and another critically injured after nearly half a dozen houses reportedly collapsed due to the intense spell of rain.

Rajouri district also witnessed serious flooding after rivers and streams swelled following incessant overnight rainfall. The body of a woman was recovered from a river in Rajouri town, while hundreds of residents from low-lying areas were shifted to safer places as floodwaters entered residential areas.

Several vehicles were swept away or submerged after rivers breached their banks, causing widespread damage and disruption.

Multi-agency rescue and relief teams, along with the district administration, were engaged in evacuating affected families, searching for missing persons and assessing damage to public and private property.

Local Congress MLA Iftkhar Ahmad said the flash floods had caused extensive destruction and that he had cancelled his scheduled political programme to return to his constituency and stand with the affected people.

The heavy rainfall began on Saturday evening and continued through the night, causing rivers, streams and seasonal water channels in Rajouri and Poonch to overflow.

A weather advisory has warned of moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir until July 23, raising fresh concerns about possible landslides, flash floods and damage in vulnerable areas.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in New Delhi for the National Conference’s proposed protest on restoration of statehood, announced that he would return to Jammu to personally monitor the situation.

Abdullah said he had been closely following developments since early morning and remained in touch with local legislators and officials. He said saving lives was the administration’s foremost priority and assured all possible assistance to families affected by loss of life and damage to property.

The Chief Minister also stated that the National Conference’s July 20 protest in New Delhi would proceed as scheduled under the leadership of party president Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha separately reviewed the situation in the flood and landslide-affected districts and directed officials to provide immediate relief and all necessary assistance to the affected families.

Authorities have intensified surveillance in vulnerable areas and advised people living near rivers, streams and unstable slopes to remain alert and strictly follow official safety advisories.