11 Killed, Seven Missing as Flash Floods and Landslides Devastate Poonch, Rajouri; Omar Abdullah Returns to J&K
At least 11 people were killed and seven others remain missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, prompting large-scale rescue operations by multiple agencies. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
According to officials, Surankote tehsil in Poonch district witnessed the worst devastation, where several houses collapsed or were washed away following overnight heavy rainfall.
A landslide struck a house in Lower Murrah village, burying all eight family members under the debris. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of five people, including two-year-old Sofian Yasar, while the search continued for the remaining missing family members.
In another tragic incident, four members of a family — Abdul Hameed, his wife Sharifa Begum, daughter Areeba, and sister Manira Begum — went missing after flash floods washed away their house in Sangla village.
A 28-year-old woman, Nazia Kousar, lost her life when her house collapsed in Noonabandi village. Her husband, Mohd Hafiz, and their three young children, aged between two and six years, were rescued with injuries and shifted to hospital.
Elsewhere, 22-year-old Shahzaib Ahmad died after his house collapsed in Sanglani-Surankote, while a minor girl identified as Iram drowned in a stream at Marhote. Officials also recovered the body of an unidentified woman from a stream near Dhundak Lathoong Bridge.
In Haveli tehsil of Poonch, one person was killed and another critically injured after nearly half a dozen houses collapsed.
In neighbouring Rajouri district, another woman’s body was recovered from a river after flash floods inundated large parts of Rajouri town. Hundreds of residents were forced to move to safer locations as overflowing rivers and streams flooded low-lying areas.
Officials said dozens of vehicles were either swept away or submerged after rivers overflowed, causing widespread damage to public and private property.
Rescue and relief teams, assisted by the police, SDRF, NDRF and local administration, are continuing evacuation and search operations despite damaged roads and ongoing rainfall.
Omar Abdullah Cuts Short Delhi Visit
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in New Delhi for the National Conference’s planned statehood protest, cut short his visit and returned to Jammu to personally monitor the situation.
“In light of the weather warning issued 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 his government would make every possible effort to assist affected families and ensure the safety of residents.
Despite his return, Abdullah said the National Conference’s statehood protest in Delhi on July 20 would proceed under the leadership of Dr Farooq Abdullah.
LG Reviews Relief Measures
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also reviewed the flood situation and directed officials to provide immediate relief, rescue and rehabilitation to the affected families.
Meanwhile, Rajouri MLA Iftkhar Ahmad cancelled his participation in the National Conference’s statehood programme and returned to his constituency to oversee relief efforts.
The Meteorological Department has warned of moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir until July 23, raising concerns over the possibility of further landslides, flash floods and damage in vulnerable areas.
Authorities have advised residents living near rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas to remain alert and follow official advisories as rescue operations continue across the affected districts.
