| Heavy rain wreaks havoc: 11 killed, several missing | | HM Shah assures full central support |    |  Early Times Report
Jammu, July 19: Heavy overnight rainfall triggered flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides across parts of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, leaving at least 10 people dead, several others missing, and causing widespread destruction in the worst-hit Surankote tehsil.
The torrential rain, which lashed the district from late Saturday night into Sunday morning, swept away houses, damaged roads, uprooted electricity infrastructure and disrupted mobile connectivity in several areas. Rescue and relief operations are continuing on a war footing, with joint teams of the civil administration, the Army, police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local volunteers deployed across the affected villages.
Officials said at least four persons, including three children, sustained injuries and were shifted to hospital for treatment.
Surankote tehsil bore the brunt of the disaster, where flash floods and landslides buried several houses under debris. Rescue teams have been working round the clock to trace missing persons and evacuate stranded residents.
Block Medical Officer (BMO), Surankote, Dr. Mohd Yousaf Choudhary, said rescue teams initially recovered six bodies, while search operations continued for those trapped under the debris. As the day progressed, the death toll rose to 10.
The deceased have been identified as Noor Safia (59), wife of Mohammad Latief; Sajad Ahmed (16), Haqnawaz Ahmed (10), and Shahnawaz Ahmed (10), all sons of Mohammad Latief; Khalda Kouser (25), wife of Yasar Iqbal; Sofian (2), son of Yasar Iqbal; Bano Bi (60), wife of Mohammad Hussain; Mohammad Akram (7), son of Mohd Liaqat; Nazia Kausar (28); and an 18-year-old youth who died after his house collapsed in Sangleyani village.
In another tragic incident, a minor girl, Iram, was swept away by a swollen stream in Marhot village and drowned. Officials also recovered the body of an unidentified woman from a drain near the Dhundhak Lathung bridge.
In Nunabandi village, heavy rainfall caused a house to collapse, killing 28-year-old Nazia Kausar. Her husband, Mohammad Hafeez, and their three children, aged between two and six years, sustained injuries and were rescued from the debris.
All the injured were shifted to Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital for treatment.
Rescue operations intensified in Mada village of Surankote, where multiple families were trapped after a house collapsed. Officials said several bodies have been recovered from the debris, while search operations are continuing for those still missing.
The administration has mobilised all available resources to clear debris, restore connectivity, and provide immediate relief to affected families.
Poonch Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Shafqat Hussain visited the affected areas to oversee rescue and relief operations and assess the damage.
Authorities said restoring road connectivity, electricity supply, and communication networks remains a priority as heavy rains continue to pose challenges.
The district administration has appealed to residents to avoid rivers, streams, and landslide-prone areas and strictly adhere to weather advisories issued by the Meteorological Department.
Officials said the situation is being monitored continuously, and emergency response teams remain on high alert.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to review the flood situation in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
According to officials, Shah was briefed about the extent of the damage and the ongoing rescue operations. He assured both the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of all possible assistance from the Centre to support relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts. | | |
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