Heavy rains unleashed flash floods and landslides across parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, leaving at least four people, including three women, dead
in Poonch district and several others missing. Surankote tehsil emerged as the worst-hit area, with rescue teams racing to evacuate stranded residents as authorities intensified relief operations amid widespread rain-related devastation. A 28-year-old woman, Nazia Kousar, was killed when her house collapsed in Noonabandi village. Her husband, Mohd Hafiz, and three children, aged between two and six years, were rescued with injuries and shifted to the hospital, officials said, PTI reported. In Lower Murrah, a landslide struck another house, leaving its owner, Mohd Latief, and five other family members missing. Search and rescue operations were underway when the last reports came in, officials said. A minor girl identified as Iram drowned in a stream at Marhote, while an unidentified body of a woman was fished out from a stream near Dhundak Lathoong bridge, officials said. Officials said Rajouri town was also hit by flash floods following incessant overnight rainfall, forcing hundreds of residents to move to safer locations as floodwaters inundated low-lying areas.
J&K CM to return to Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that he will cut short his stay in Delhi and return to Jammu on Sunday afternoon in view of the worsening situation across parts of the division following heavy rains.
In a post on X, Abdullah said he would personally monitor the situation on the ground.
"In light of the weather warning put out by the meteorological department and the seriousness of the situation unfolding across parts of Jammu division, I will leave Delhi to fly to Jammu this afternoon to personally monitor the situation on the ground," the chief minister said.
"Since first light this morning I've been closely monitoring the situation arising from the extremely heavy rain in parts of Jammu, especially Rajouri town & surrounding areas. I've been in touch with the local MLAs of the region. While the situation continues to unfold the first priority of the administration is to safeguard precious lives. The government will do everything possible to aid & assist affected people who have suffered property loss/damage due to the rains & flash floods," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
