Srinagar, July 23: Twenty-nine people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Jammu and Kashmir, with the Jammu region accounting for 26 fatalities and Kashmir valley reporting three deaths, officials said on Thursday.
The death toll in the Jammu region rose to 26 with the recovery of a woman’s body in Poonch district, even as six persons remained missing and search operations continued.
Officials said the body of Khalida Kouser (25), wife of Yasar Iqbal of Murrah village, was recovered near the Fazalabad footbridge in Surankote during a search operation. She was among those washed away in the flash floods that hit the area on July 18. The body was identified by village lambardar Zakir Hussain at the Sub-district hospital in Surankote and handed over to the family after legal formalities.
With this, the death toll in Poonch district has risen to 17, the highest among all affected districts.
In the Kashmir valley, two persons died in Bandipora district and one in Budgam district due to rain-related incidents, taking the overall death toll in the Union Territory to 29.
The victims of the Murrah flash floods include Noor Safia (59), her son Sajad Ahmed (16), Haqnawaz Ahmed (11), Shahnawaz Ahmed (11), two-year-old Sofian, Bano Bi (60), and Mohd Akram (7).
Meanwhile, a cloudburst in the upper reaches of Mayan village in Boniyar on Thursday triggered flash floods, damaging four culverts and disrupting road connectivity, electricity, and drinking water supply in several areas.
Tehsildar Boniyar Najbullah Shah said restoration work has been started on a war footing. The Jal Shakti Department said the Neela Nag water source was badly affected, with raw water transmission pipelines damaged, leading to supply disruptions in Mayan, Kathal, Muqam Peeran, Braripora, Bijhama, Niloosa, Noorkhah, Gingle, Lachipora, and Chandanwari. Residents have been advised to boil water before use.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), supported by Home Guards and Civil Defence, continued its relief and rescue operations across the Union Territory.
In Rajouri, SDRF personnel facilitated the safe crossing of PDD staff across a swollen river to restore power supply. In Jammu, an SDRF unit cleared a fallen tree near Manda on the National Highway. In Akhnoor’s Pragwal area, a team was deployed along the Chenab to monitor water levels and create awareness among locals.
In two separate rescue operations on Thursday, police and SDRF teams saved three people trapped in swollen rivers. In Jammu, Farman Ali (25) and Farooq Ahmed (28) were rescued from the River Tawi at Phallian Mandal. In Anantnag, an SDRF team evacuated a tribal family stranded in the River Lidder near Aang Matipora due to a sudden rise in water levels. No casualties were reported in either operation.
Authorities have urged people to avoid venturing near rivers and streams amid fluctuating water levels. Officials said restoration of essential services is underway and SDRF continues to coordinate with civil departments to ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, The government is actively working on the ground, taking stock of the situation and assuring all possible support to the affected families.
From Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to the Deputy Chief Minister, ministers, and officials, all are actively reaching out to the people impacted by the flash floods.
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