Seven of two families buried in Poonch landslid; Govt announces relief measures;
Widespread heavy rain, flash flood forecast over next two days
Jammu Tawi, Jul 20: Nine people were killed in separate rain-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, including seven members of two families who died after a flash flood and landslide buried a house in Poonch district and two persons killed when shooting stones struck a passenger bus in Doda district, officials said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced an ex gratia of Rs 6 lakh for the next of kin of each person killed in the rain-related incidents in Rajouri and Poonch, comprising Rs 4 lakh from the SDRF and Rs 2 lakh from the CMRF.
The fresh deaths came as search operations continued for those missing in Sunday’s devastating flash floods, taking the overall death toll from the two-day spell of heavy rain, flash floods and landslides in the Union Territory to 21, officials said.
The latest tragedy struck the Domail Dhok area of Loran in Poonch district, where a residential house was buried under debris after a flash flood and landslide triggered by heavy rainfall.
The deceased were identified as Zaida Begum (35), wife of Mohammad Rafiq and a resident of Lopadi, Loran; her son Adnan Rafiq (4); daughter Irzaa (2); Shamim Akhter, wife of Rayaz Ahmad; Tanvir (22), son of Ghulam Mohammad; Irfan (22), son of Subhan Dar; and Sabina (30), wife of Abdul Majid.
Police, SDRF and local rescue teams rushed to the spot and retrieved all the bodies from the debris. “Police are on the spot, and further details are being ascertained,” an official said.
Officials said that the latest fatalities came a day after 12 people were killed in flash floods and other rain-related incidents in Poonch and Rajouri districts on Sunday, raising the overall death toll from the ongoing spell of inclement weather to 19.
Search operations continued on Monday at multiple locations along the Suran river in Surankote to trace people who went missing during Sunday’s flash floods.
Officials said teams of the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other agencies were carrying out coordinated searches despite difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.
“All available resources have been deployed to trace the missing persons, and the operation will continue until everyone is accounted for,” an official said.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the tragic landslide in Poonch had claimed seven precious lives. “I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families during this difficult time,” Sinha said in a post on X.
He said senior officials had been directed to extend immediate relief and all necessary assistance to the affected families.
CM Abdullah, announcing an ex gratia, said, “While no amount of financial assistance can ever compensate for the irreparable loss of life caused by yesterday’s flash floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents in Poonch and Rajouri, we are announcing an ex gratia relief of Rs 6 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased as an immediate measure of support.”
He directed the district administration to ensure immediate relief and rehabilitation of affected families and asked all departments to work in coordination to restore essential services and expedite relief measures.
Meanwhile, two persons were killed and several others injured after shooting stones hit a passenger bus and multiple vehicles at Raggi Nallah in Doda district on Monday.
Officials said continuous rainfall triggered a slide of stones and debris, damaging several vehicles. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed due to mudslides and continuous shooting stones, while restoration work was underway. Authorities advised commuters to avoid unnecessary travel until the road was declared safe.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti visited the flood-affected Bella area of Rajouri district to assess the situation in the aftermath of recent flash floods.
Later, the senior officers chaired a review meeting with district officials to assess the response measures, ensure better coordination among departments and identify vulnerable areas for timely evacuation in the event of future emergencies, they added.
In north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, back-to-back cloudbursts struck the Tulail Valley area of Gurez on Sunday, triggering flash floods that damaged the Dawar-Tulail road and affected Burnai, Zadigey and Charwan villages.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness widespread moderate to heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours as an approaching western disturbance interacts with the active monsoon system, significantly increasing the risk of flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts across the Union Territory, according to a weather forecast of Kashmir Weather.
The forecast said a surge of monsoon moisture is expected to reach Jammu and Kashmir from Monday night, with the interaction between the western disturbance and monsoon winds likely to enhance rainfall intensity in both the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
Jammu region is likely to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, with a high possibility of flash floods, overflowing streams and nallahs, and landslides in vulnerable areas. Water levels in major rivers are also expected to rise rapidly and may approach or cross danger levels at some places, depending on the distribution of rainfall.
Furthermore, political parties across Jammu and Kashmir condoled the loss of lives in the rain-related incidents and urged the administration to ensure swift rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures for the affected families.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party and the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (PC) expressed grief over the deaths caused by flash floods and landslides in Rajouri, Poonch and other affected areas, and called for immediate assistance to those hit by the calamity.
The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) issued a public safety advisory and placed its field machinery on high alert following the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired another high-level review meeting through video conference from New Delhi to assess restoration works, relief measures and overall preparedness across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting comprehensively reviewed the latest ground situation, including restoration of essential services, road connectivity, availability of food and other essential supplies, healthcare arrangements, relief operations and the preparedness of all departments in view of continuing adverse weather conditions.
Emphasising the need for continued vigilance, the Chief Minister directed the district administrations to maintain focused attention on vulnerable habitations and take all necessary measures to safeguard residents living in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas.
The Chief Minister also directed all departments to strengthen inter-departmental coordination, closely monitor weather forecasts and remain fully prepared to respond swiftly to any emerging situation. “The safety and well-being of the people remain the government’s highest priority,” Abdullah said.
