12 dead in Poonch & Rajouri after flash floods, landslides
The administration and weather forecasters have warned that the rains may continue for the next three days and worsen the already dangerous situation. People in J&K have been advised to stay away from water bodies and move away from sensitive 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 state protest, decided to cut his stay short and return to Jammu on Sunday afternoon due to the deteriorating situation in parts of Jammu division. He also chaired a high-level management meeting in the winter capital on Sunday evening. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation in the rain and flood affected areas and directed the officials to provide immediate relief and assistance to the affected families. Meanwhile, the BJP postponed its planned protest against the ruling NC government in Srinagar due to the situation unfolding in Jammu.
Surankote tehsil in Poonch suffered the worst damage after a landslide triggered by heavy rain hit a house in Lower Murrah village, trapping all eight residents under the rubble, officials said. While rescue teams immediately found five bodies, efforts to track down the remaining people continued. Four people from another family were reported missing after their house was submerged in Sangla village due to flash floods, officials said. A 28-year-old woman died when her house collapsed in Noonabandi village, while four members of her family were injured.
Residents of Rajouri woke up to the roaring Darhali Canal, which turned into a torrential brown downpour, uprooting trees and sweeping vehicles off the roads. The entire Bela Bus Stand was submerged and dozens of vehicles were submerged, leaving debris on the main roads of the town. “This was the worst flood situation in our area since 2014. This river had turned into a doomsday beast that swallowed everything and everyone in its path,” said Khalid Choudhary from Rajouri.
