- Woman’s body recovered in Poonch as Boniyar cloudburst disrupts water, power and road connectivity; NH-44 remains closed amid forecast of more rain
Jammu Tawi, July 23: The death toll in rain-triggered flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides across Jammu and Kashmir rose to 29 on Thursday with the recovery of the body of a 25-year-old woman from Poonch district, even as heavy rainfall continued for the fifth consecutive day, triggering fresh flash floods and disrupting road connectivity at several places.
The body of Khalida Kouser, wife of Yasar Iqbal of Murrah village, was recovered near the Fazalabad footbridge in Surankote during a search operation. She had been washed away in the devastating flash floods that struck the area on the night of July 18, officials said.
The decomposed body was shifted to the Sub-District Hospital, Surankote, where village lambardar Zakir Hussain identified it. After completion of legal formalities, the body was handed over to the family for the last rites.
With the latest recovery, the death toll in Poonch district has risen to 17, the highest among the affected districts, while 26 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the Jammu region. Overall, 29 people have died across Jammu and Kashmir, including two in Bandipora and one in Budgam districts of the Kashmir Valley.
Six people are still reported missing and search operations are continuing.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall continued to lash several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, triggering cloudbursts and flash floods. The worst-hit area on Thursday was Boniyar in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, where a cloudburst struck the upper reaches of Mayan village, sending torrents of water, mud and boulders downstream.
Officials said flash floods washed away four culverts, snapped electricity and drinking water supplies and disrupted road connectivity. The cloudburst also damaged the Neela Nag water source and raw water transmission pipelines, leaving around a dozen villages, including Mayan, Kathal, Muqam Peeran, Braripora, Bijhama, Niloosa, Noorkhah, Gingle, Lachipora A and B, and Chandanwari, without drinking water.
Authorities advised residents to use water sparingly, boil drinking water before consumption and cooperate with restoration teams. Tehsildar Boniyar Najbullah Shah said restoration work had been launched on a war footing and electricity and water supplies were expected to be restored by Friday, subject to improvement in weather conditions.
Rescue teams comprising police and civil administration also evacuated a woman trapped inside her house after floodwaters entered the locality.
Elsewhere, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police carried out several rescue operations as rivers and streams swelled following incessant rain. In Jammu district, two men trapped in the swollen River Tawi at Phallian Mandal were rescued and shifted to safety. Both were stated to be stable.
In Anantnag district, an SDRF team evacuated a tribal family stranded in the River Lidder near Aang Matipora after the water level rose suddenly. In Doda, SDRF personnel were deployed along the Chenab River in Pul Doda as water levels increased, while authorities advised people to stay away from rivers and other vulnerable locations.
In Rajouri district, SDRF personnel facilitated the safe crossing of Power Development Department staff across a swollen river to restore electricity supply in affected areas. Another SDRF team removed a fallen tree near Manda on the Jammu National Highway, restoring traffic movement on the stretch.
An SDRF team was also stationed in Akhnoor’s Pragwal area to monitor the rising Chenab, spread public awareness and respond swiftly to any flood-like situation. The water level in the Chenab at Akhnoor crossed the flood alert mark again during the evening, touching 33 feet against the alert level of 32 feet. The danger level has been fixed at 35 feet, officials said.
In Kathua, Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma visited flood-affected areas along with officials of the Flood Control Department and reviewed the situation. He directed officers to take all necessary measures to safeguard lives and property.
In Kishtwar district, heavy rainfall led to the collapse of a mud house in the Chatroo-Famber area. While all family members escaped unhurt, 25 sheep were killed in the incident, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed to vehicular traffic due to fresh landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations in Ramban district.
Traffic authorities said only stranded and local vehicles were being allowed to move after limited clearance operations, while road restoration work continued. Commuters have been advised to avoid travelling on the highway until it is declared safe, as intermittent rainfall continues and there remains a possibility of fresh landslides and shooting stones.
The Meteorological Department has forecast another spell of rain and thundershowers at many places on Friday, followed by scattered showers between July 25 and 27. A fresh wet spell is expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir from July 28 onwards.
