Flash Floods, Landslides Kill 12 in J&K's Poonch and Rajouri, Seven Still Missing

At least 12 people were killed and seven others remained missing after torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides across the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Rescue operations continued despite damaged roads and persistent rainfall.

The worst-hit area was Surankote in Poonch district , where a landslide buried a house in Lower Murrah village , trapping eight members of a family. Five bodies, including that of a two-year-old child, have been recovered, while search efforts are underway for the remaining missing persons. In Sangla village , four members of another family went missing after their house was swept away by flash floods. Other fatalities were reported due to house collapses, drowning incidents and floodwaters in different parts of Poonch and Rajouri.

Relentless overnight rain caused rivers and streams to overflow, inundating Rajouri town and nearby areas. Hundreds of residents were evacuated as floodwaters entered residential localities, damaged public infrastructure and swept away several vehicles. Teams from the SDRF, NDRF, police and local administration are carrying out rescue, evacuation and relief operations while assessing the extent of the damage.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cut short his visit to New Delhi and returned to Jammu to personally oversee relief efforts. He said the administration's immediate priority was to protect lives and assured all possible assistance to affected families. He also confirmed that the National Conference's statehood protest in Delhi would proceed under the leadership of Farooq Abdullah .

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation and directed officials to provide immediate relief, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured full support from the Centre after speaking with both the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister.

With the India Meteorological Department forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall until July 23 , authorities have temporarily suspended the Amarnath Yatra and Vaishno Devi Yatra as a precaution against further landslides and flash floods.