J&K: Flash floods, landslides wreak havoc in Poonch-Rajouri belt; 11 dead, several missing
Rajouri reels under flash floods LG reviews situation CM cuts his trip shot Shah speaks to LG, chief minister Amarnath & Vaishno Devi Yatras temporarily
Rajouri reels under flash floods LG reviews situation CM cuts his trip shot Shah speaks to LG, chief minister Amarnath & Vaishno Devi Yatras temporarily suspended Poll Vote & Share your view Should religious pilgrimages be suspended during severe weather warnings? Absolutely No, pilgrims should decide for themselves 3k+ users shared opinion today 5k+ users already voted today 3k+ users shared opinion today Share Opinion 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 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.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.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.Union home minister
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