Overnight rain brings J&K's Rajouri to a standstill as flash floods wreak havoc

The flooding followed continuous heavy rain that began on Saturday evening. (PTI)

Heavy overnight rain triggered flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district early on Sunday, forcing hundreds of residents to move to safer places after rivers overflowed and flooded low-lying areas.Officials said floodwaters entered several parts of Rajouri town, including the new bus stand, after rivers burst their banks. Dozens of vehicles were either swept away or left submerged, causing widespread disruption.Rescue and relief teams, assisted by the district administration, were deployed to evacuate affected families and assess the damage. Congress MLA Iftkhar Ahmad said the flash floods had caused extensive damage to both public infrastructure and private property.

‘Everything is lost. Everything is gone’

The flooding followed continuous heavy rain that began on Saturday evening. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir until July 23.“Everything is lost. Everything is gone. Everything we had has been washed away. One woman is missing,” a local resident told news agency ANI.Ahmad, who was scheduled to attend a Congress protest in Jammu demanding the restoration of statehood, returned to Rajouri after the floods.“I have abandoned my party programme to stand with my people, as the flash floods have caused extensive damage to public and private property,” he said, urging the administration to begin relief and rehabilitation work immediately.Officials said the Darhali, Khandli, Suktoh and Jamola rivers overflowed, with several flowing close to or above the danger mark. The Darhali River breached a flood protection wall near Bela Colony, sending floodwaters into the new bus stand where several vehicles were swept away or submerged.More than 50 families living near Abdullah Bridge were forced to leave their homes after floodwaters flooded the settlement. Another locality near Tariq Bridge was also affected, prompting police to respond to distress calls and help residents move to safer places away from the riverbanks.“Our teams are responding to almost every SOS call. At this stage, our priority is to prevent any loss of life. While there has been significant damage to property, the extent of the losses will be assessed once the floodwaters recede,” a police official said.Police teams patrolled flood-prone areas, made public announcements and urged people living near rivers and in low-lying localities to evacuate immediately. The district administration also issued an advisory asking residents to remain alert, while police control rooms were activated to coordinate rescue and relief operations.

Red alert in Himachal

Meanwhile, the IMD has issued a red alert for parts of Himachal Pradesh on July 20 and 21, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides, rising river levels and widespread disruption.Speaking to ANI, Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Senior Scientist at the IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Shimla, said the weather is expected to become active from the night of July 18 and continue until at least July 24.He said Chamba, Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur are likely to receive the heaviest rainfall, with red alerts in place on July 20. On July 21, the red alert will also cover Kullu, while several other districts remain under orange and yellow alerts.Sharma warned that continuous rainfall could trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides and rockfalls, especially in vulnerable areas.“Water levels in rivers and streams are expected to rise significantly. Even small seasonal streams can swell suddenly, increasing the risk of flash floods. People should stay away from rivers, nullahs and other water bodies,” he said.He advised residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain, follow official traffic advisories and keep track of weather updates issued by the IMD and district administrations.The weather office also warned that heavy rainfall could damage standing crops and horticulture, disrupt essential services, cause traffic congestion and reduce visibility on roads across the state over the coming days.