Flood fury in Jammu: Death toll rises to 23

JAMMU:- In Jammu and Kashmir, 11 people, including a woman and her two children, were killed in fresh rain-related incidents in Jammu region on Monday, raising the death toll to 23 over the past three days. Local authorities said that seven people went missing as persistent heavy rain hampered rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation following heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides in several districts of the Union Territory.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in separate rain-related tragedies in Doda and Poonch districts. They expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved families during this difficult time and directed the administration to ensure immediate relief and assistance to the affected families.

Chief Minister has announced an ex gratia relief of Rs. 6 lakh for the next of kin of each person who lost their life in the rain-related incidents in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch on Sunday as an immediate measure to support the bereaved families.

Seven people, including two children, were buried alive after a landslide triggered by heavy rain brought down their mud house in the upper reaches of Loran area in Poonch district on Monday.

In another incident two person were killed in Doda district when a passenger bus was hit by a rock that rolled down from a hillock near Raggi Nallah along the Jammu-Kishtwar National Highway in Doda district.

In the Kashtigarh area of the district, a woman was killed after being hit by a stone near her house. The body of a youth who was washed away in flash floods in Rajouri district on Sunday was fished out from the river at the Salani area of Rajouri town on Monday.

Heavy rain over the three days has caused massive damage to public and private infrastructure. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 6 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased.

The relief package comprises Rs. 4 lakh from the SDRF and an additional Rs. 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He said no amount of financial assistance can ever compensate for the irreparable loss of life. Swollen streams, slippery terrain and poor visibility hindered the movement of rescue teams, who have been racing against time to trace the missing.

Heavy rain on Monday severely hampered rescue operations in both Rajouri and Poonch districts making rescue and search operations difficult in the affected areas. Emergency teams, including the NDRF, SDRF, J&K Police, and the Army are deployed and on high alert in vulnerable areas.

The Meteorological Department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir till July 23, prompting district administrations to issue advisories urging people to remain vigilant and avoid venturing near rivers, streams, nallahs and other water bodies. Chief Minister directed all district administrations to submit situation reports every six hours until July 24 to strengthen monitoring and ensure a coordinated response.