Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 21

Authorities across Jammu and Kashmir stepped up flood preparedness and rescue operations on Tuesday as relentless monsoon rain pushed water levels higher in major rivers, triggered flash floods and landslides, and disrupted road connectivity, with at least 17 people reported dead in the worst-hit Pir Panjal districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

Police and district administrations issued safety advisories in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, and Udhampur as the Tawi, Chenab, and Ujh rivers and other water bodies swelled after days of heavy rain.

In Jammu, the rising Tawi revived memories of last year’s devastating flooding in the Nikki Tawi-Beli Charana area. State Disaster Response Force personnel led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Lalit Kumar carried out public-awareness campaigns along the riverbanks, urging residents to stay away from swollen water bodies.

Authorities cited an India Meteorological Department forecast indicating that adverse weather could persist until July 23.

Residents were advised to avoid non-essential travel, remain indoors where possible and evacuate vulnerable low-lying areas if instructed.

The Ujh river at Panjtirthi in Kathua had crossed its evacuation level by Tuesday afternoon and was continuing to rise, officials said.

In Kathua, flash floods in Maggar Khad washed away the road to Chak Gota, a stretch residents said had also been damaged by flooding last year.

Army personnel meanwhile rescued people stranded at several locations along the Bhini river and Choi Khad after being called in by the civil administration.

The Army said troops of the Rising Star Corps established rope lines across flooded stretches and evacuated civilians trapped by strong currents.

In Reasi, rising inflows into the Chenab prompted authorities to open all gates of the Salal dam to regulate reservoir levels.

Residents in low-lying areas were warned against approaching the river or other swollen water bodies.

The situation remained particularly grave in Rajouri and Poonch, where search operations were intensified for nine people reported missing after floods and landslides.

Fourteen people have died in Poonch and three in Rajouri, while eight remain missing in Poonch and one in Rajouri, according to police.

Two body parts were also recovered from debris in Poonch.

DNA samples were collected to determine whether they belonged to recent victims or were remains displaced from a nearby graveyard.

In Poonch, teams from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, police and Army, assisted by civil volunteers, searched the Bufliaz-Tradan Wali stretch through Chang Nallah.

In Rajouri, rescuers continued looking for Abdul Ghani, a Jal Shakti Department employee who was swept away from a pumping station during the floods.

Continuous rain complicated rescue operations and delayed restoration of essential services. A man injured when a house collapsed in Poonch was admitted to the district hospital and was reported to be out of danger.

A team of J&K ministers visited Rajouri’s flood-hit areas and relief camps on Tuesday. Ministers Javed Rana and Satish Sharma reviewed relief measures, with Sharma saying the government would provide assistance to affected families and restore essential services.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to chair a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the situation and relief operations.

Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad also visited affected areas in Poonch and met families of victims.

The wider disruption extended to roads, with a landslide briefly blocking the Poonch National Highway at Sheindhara. Traffic was restored after police supervised a nearly three-hour debris-clearance operation.