12 dead, 10 missing as flashfloods, landslides batter Jammu division

Jammu, Jul 19: At least 12 people were killed and 10 others remain missing after flash floods triggered by torrential rainfall devastated parts of the Jammu division on Sunday, causing widespread destruction to homes, public infrastructure, livestock and agricultural land, officials said.
Poonch district was worst-hit, with nine dead, seven missing persons and three injured. In the neighbouring Rajouri, three persons died while three others remain missing and one was injured.
According to reports, floods damaged 145 residential houses across Jammu division, with 93 houses damaged in Poonch, 42 in Rajouri, eight on Reasi and one house each in Kishtwar and Ramban.
Officials said 17 schools, 24 traditional water mills and three shops were damaged also damage in Poonch, while BSNL and Airtel mobile services remained disrupted in several areas.
Rajouri also witnessed extensive destruction, with nearly 90 per cent of the Bela Bus Stand and the Children’s Park washed away. Officials said a school and 56 vehicles were also damaged, while drinking water supply to nearly 300 households was disrupted.
In Kishtwar’s Chatroo tehsil, flashfloods in Batwan Nallah partially damaged a Jamia Masjid, a madrassa building and a shop. Agricultural losses were also reported, with 127 kanals of farmland affected, including 92 kanals in Poonch and 35 kanals in Rajouri.
Rescue teams from the SDRF, police, civil administration and other agencies continued search operations for the missing while simultaneously assessing the scale of the damage and restoring essential services.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the administration is closely monitoring the situation in the flood-hit districts and that rescue operations were being carried out on a war footing.
“The SDRF, police and other agencies are working in close coordination and every possible assistance is being extended to the affected districts,” Sinha said, adding that the Amarnath Yatra had been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure in view of the prevailing weather conditions.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed the administration to remain on the highest alert and ensure swift rescue, relief and restoration efforts.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Omar expressed grief over the loss of lives and said protecting human life remained the government’s foremost priority.
He directed deputy commissioners and field agencies to maintain close surveillance over vulnerable areas prone to flash floods and landslides while ensuring that rescue teams, heavy machinery and emergency services remained fully prepared.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to expedite search operations for the missing, restore damaged roads, electricity, drinking water supply and communication networks and ensure the uninterrupted availability of food grains, medicines and other essential supplies in the affected areas.
Omar further ordered all district administrations to keep control rooms functional round the clock and submit situation reports every six hours until July 24 to enable continuous monitoring of the evolving weather situation.
He also said ministers would begin visiting the affected districts from Monday, subject to weather conditions, to assess the damage and oversee relief and rehabilitation efforts.