12 dead in Poonch & Rajouri after flash floods, landslides

Srinagar: Torrential rain triggered flash floods that tore through several parts of the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday morning, killing at least 12 people and leaving seven others missing, prompting a multi-agency rescue and relief operation.

The administration and weather forecasters have warned that the rains could continue over the next three days, exacerbating the already dangerous situation. People across J&K have been advised to stay away from water bodies and move away from vulnerable areas. The ongoing Amarnath Yatra, Vaishno Devi Yatra and Shiv Khori Yatra have been suspended.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah, who was in Delhi for the proposed statehood protest, decided to cut short his stay and return to Jammu on Sunday afternoon in view of the worsening situation across parts of the Jammu division. He also chaired a high-level meeting of the administration in the winter capital on Sunday evening. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation in the rain and flash flood-hit districts and directed officials to ensure immediate relief and assistance to the affected families. Meanwhile, BJP postponed its scheduled protest against the ruling NC government in Srinagar in view of the emerging situation in Jammu.


Officials said Surankote tehsil in Poonch was the worst hit after a landslide triggered by torrential rain struck a house in Lower Murrah village, burying all eight occupants under the debris. Rescue teams immediately recovered five bodies, while an operation to trace the remaining occupants continued. Officials said four members of another family were reported missing after their house was washed away by flash floods in Sangla village. A 28-year-old woman was killed when her house collapsed in Noonabandi village, while four members of her family sustained injuries.

Residents of Rajouri woke up to the roaring Darhali Canal, which had turned into a violent brown torrent, uprooting trees and sweeping vehicles off the roads. Dozens of vehicles were washed away as the entire Bela Bus Stand was submerged, while debris littered major roads across the town. "This was the worst flood situation in our area since 2014. This river had turned into a doomsday creature that swallowed everything and everyone in its way," said Khalid Choudhary of Rajouri.