Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, July 19

At least 11 people died, five were injured, and eight others went missing after torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides across the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Pir Panjal region, authorities said on Sunday, as rescuers raced to trace survivors amid widespread destruction of homes, roads, and public infrastructure.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated from flood-hit areas in multi-agency rescue operations involving the Indian Army, police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and civil authorities after overnight rain unleashed floods and mudslides across the Pir Panjal region. Power supply was severely disrupted, hundreds of vehicles were damaged or swept away and several roads remained blocked, officials said.

Poonch district bore the brunt of the disaster, with Surankote among the worst-affected areas. Deputy Inspector General of Police Sandeep Wazir said 10 people, including six members of a single family, were killed in rain-related incidents across the district, while six others remained missing and were feared trapped or swept away. One woman died in neighbouring Rajouri district.

In one of the deadliest incidents, a landslide buried a house in Surankote’s Lower Murrah area, trapping eight members of a family beneath the debris. Rescue teams recovered five bodies, while efforts continued to locate the remaining three. Elsewhere in Poonch, authorities recovered bodies from rivers and collapsed houses after floodwaters swept through residential areas during the night.

In Rajouri, a woman was swept away by flash floods before her body was recovered, while another body was spotted in a river but had yet to be retrieved. Authorities said several other people, including two boys and a government employee, were feared missing after being caught in fast-flowing floodwaters. Two people were hospitalised after being injured in a landslide.

The floods caused extensive damage across the two districts, with floodwaters washing away or damaging hundreds of vehicles and inundating residential neighbourhoods, markets and government infrastructure. In Rajouri’s main bus stand, dozens of parked vehicles were tossed aside by powerful currents, while others were carried away downstream. Officials said a detailed assessment of losses would be undertaken after the waters receded.

Electricity infrastructure also suffered heavy damage. In Poonch, the collapse of towers on a 132-kV transmission line plunged the entire district into darkness, while major feeders in Rajouri were damaged after poles and transformers were washed away by floodwaters. Officials warned that restoring power could take several days because replacement equipment was being transported from Jammu.

The disaster followed days of warnings from the India Meteorological Department, which had forecast heavy rainfall and cautioned that flash floods, landslides and cloudburst-like events could affect mountainous districts across Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities said rescue, restoration and damage assessment operations would continue as adverse weather persisted across the region.

Political parties seek aid; urge relief, rehabilitation after deadly floods

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday called for immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation measures for families affected by the flash floods and landslides that have killed at least 11 people and caused widespread destruction across Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Leaders from across the political spectrum expressed condolences to the bereaved families and urged the administration to accelerate rescue operations, provide adequate compensation to victims and ensure timely restoration of essential services in the flood-hit areas.

The ruling National Conference said the scale of the disaster warranted sustained government support beyond immediate relief. At the same time, opposition parties, including the People’s Democratic Party and the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, called for a comprehensive assessment of losses and speedy rehabilitation of displaced families. Several leaders also appealed to the Centre to extend financial assistance for reconstruction of damaged homes and public infrastructure.

The appeals came as rescue teams continued to search for missing people and authorities assessed damage caused by flash floods that washed away homes, vehicles, roads and electricity infrastructure across large parts of the Pir Panjal region following torrential overnight rain.

Floods force school closure

Authorities on Sunday ordered the closure of all schools in the flood-ravaged districts of Rajouri and Poonch for two days after flash floods and landslides caused widespread destruction, disrupted public services and claimed at least 11 lives across the Pir Panjal region.

The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department said all government. It recognised that private schools in the two districts would remain closed on July 21 and 22 as a precaution, citing the prevailing weather conditions and damage caused by heavy rainfall.

The decision came as authorities continued rescue and relief operations in areas hit by torrential rain that triggered flash floods, landslides and widespread damage to homes, roads, bridges and electricity infrastructure. Several educational institutions were also affected by flooding, while road blockades and disrupted transport made it difficult for students and staff to travel safely.

Officials said the situation would be reviewed before schools reopen, with district administrations monitoring weather conditions and the restoration of essential services. The India Meteorological Department has forecast further rainfall across parts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting authorities to remain on high alert.