Flash Floods, Landslides Devastate Poonch-Rajouri; 11 Dead, 7 Missing

JAMMU, July 19: At least 11 people were killed and seven others remain missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, prompting a massive multi-agency rescue operation. The worst devastation was reported from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district, where several houses collapsed and floodwaters caused widespread destruction. Rescue teams are continuing search operations amid damaged roads and persistent rainfall. Officials said a landslide struck a house in Lower Murrah village early Sunday, burying all eight occupants. Five bodies, including that of a two-year-old boy, have been recovered, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining missing family members. In another tragedy, four members of a family went missing after their house was washed away by flash floods in Sangla village. The missing have been identified as Abdul Hameed, his wife Sharifa Begum, daughter Areeba and sister Manira Begum. A 28-year-old woman, Nazia Kousar, died after her house collapsed in Noonabandi village, while her husband and three young children were rescued with injuries. Another man, Shahzaib Ahmad (22), lost his life after his house collapsed in Sanglani-Surankote, while a minor girl, Iram, drowned in a stream at Marhote. Officials also recovered the bodies of two unidentified women—one from a stream near Dhundak Lathoong Bridge and another from a river in Rajouri town, where flash floods inundated low-lying areas and forced hundreds of residents to move to safer places. Several houses were damaged or destroyed, while dozens of vehicles were swept away or submerged after overflowing rivers breached their banks, causing extensive damage to public and private property. Rescue and relief teams, assisted by the civil administration, are evacuating stranded residents and assessing losses. Authorities have warned of continued moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir until July 23. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cut short his visit to New Delhi and returned to Jammu to monitor the situation. He said the administration’s top priority is to save lives and assured all possible assistance to affected families. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also reviewed the situation and directed officials to ensure immediate rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures in the flood-hit districts.