J&K: Flash floods, landslides wreak havoc in Poonch-Rajouri belt; 11 dead, several missing

NEW DELHI: Heavy overnight rain triggered flash floods and landslides across Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district early Sunday, leaving at least eleven people dead and several others missing. Rescue teams have fanned out across the worst-hit areas as authorities step up efforts to trace the missing and assist affected residents.At least four deaths were reported from Surankote tehsil, which bore the brunt of the heavy rainfall. Relief and rescue operations have been intensified to evacuate stranded residents, clear debris and restore access to affected villages.28-year-old woman, Nazia Kousar, died after her house collapsed in Noonabandi village, officials told news agency PTI. Her husband, Mohd Hafiz, and their three children, aged between two and six years, sustained injuries and were shifted to hospital. In Lower Murrah, a landslide struck another house, leaving its owner, Mohd Latief, and five members of his family missing.Elsewhere, a minor girl identified as Iram drowned in a stream at Marhote, while the body of an unidentified woman was recovered from a stream near the Dhundak Lathoong bridge, according to officials.Four members of a family were reported missing after flash floods washed away their house in Sangla village, officials told PTI.

Rajouri reels under flash floods

Rajouri remained among the worst-affected districts. Officials said flash floods triggered by incessant overnight rainfall inundated low-lying areas of Rajouri town, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate to safer locations.Heavy rainfall prompted authorities to open all gates of the Salal Dam in the Reasi district, leading to a sharp rise in the Chenab River’s water level. Officials have issued an advisory asking residents living along the river to stay away from its banks and avoid fishing, bathing, grazing livestock or attempting to cross the river until the situation returns to normal.

LG reviews situation

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation in the rain and flash flood-hit districts of Poonch and Rajouri, directing officials to ensure immediate relief and assistance to affected families. He said rescue teams from the civil administration, police, Army, state disaster response force and local volunteers were working on the ground, while all departments had been placed on high alert.Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Sinha said he was “deeply saddened” by the deaths reported from Poonch’s Haveli and Surankote areas and assured immediate aid for affected families. He urged residents to remain calm, follow official advisories, and said emergency teams had been directed to stay fully prepared for any further contingency.

CM cuts his trip shot

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that he was cutting short his stay in Delhi and returning to Jammu to personally monitor the situation on the ground.“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 safeguarding lives remained the administration’s top priority and assured all possible assistance to those affected by property loss and flood damage.

Shah speaks to LG, chief minister

Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to LG Manoj Sinha and CM Abdullah to review the flood situation and ensured all possible help for the safety and security of the affected people.

Amarnath & Vaishno Devi Yatras temporarily suspended

Earlier, on Saturday rain-triggered disasters prompted the Jammu and Kashmir administration to suspend the Amarnath Yatra on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes on Sunday after the India Meteorological Department warned of heavy rainfall across the Union Territory.The suspension came a day after four Amarnath pilgrims were injured when their vehicle crashed into a stationary truck on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur.Amid continuing monsoon conditions, the sub-divisional administration in Katra has also set up a monsoon disaster management control room to coordinate emergency response to flash floods, landslides, waterlogging and road blockages.According to an order issued by sub-divisional magistrate of Katra, Piyush Dhotra, the control room will operate under the supervision of Tehsildar Katra Jatinder Singh in coordination with the police, Public Works Department, health, power, Jal Shakti, municipal authorities and other departments.Vaishno devi yatra has also been temporarily suspended due to adverse weather conditions in Katra and the Trikuta Hills as a precautionary measure.