Poonch, July 19: Ten individuals lost their lives and multiple residents remain unaccounted for following intense overnight downpours that triggered severe flash floods and landslides across the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri on Sunday. The deluge caused extensive destruction to public infrastructure, washing away residential structures, vehicles, and critical roadways. In response to the crisis, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to assess the impact and coordinate federal assistance.
During the high-level deliberations, the Union Home Minister pledged the full cooperation of the central administration to manage the ongoing emergency. Officials stated that Shah affirmed the central government’s commitment to provide all necessary resources for immediate relief and rehabilitation, declaring that every measure would be implemented to secure the safety of the displaced population.
The devastation concentrated heavily on the Lower Murrah region within Surankote, where nine of the confirmed fatalities occurred, including six individuals from the same household. A tenth casualty was recorded in Haveli tehsil, where at least seven homes sustained severe structural damage. Emergency personnel noted that the casualty count may escalate as search teams navigate thick debris to reach families believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
Disaster response teams, local police personnel, and civil volunteers are currently executing search operations despite the challenges posed by continuous precipitation and compromised terrain. Heavy machinery has been moved into the worst-affected villages to clear mudslides and reopen blocked transportation routes. Meanwhile, the district administration has evacuated vulnerable families to temporary shelters and issued strict advisories urging citizens to avoid water bodies and restrict travel until the weather stabilizes.
