Ishtiyaq Kar/ Kamakshi kathmariya
Srinagar/Jammu, July 20 (KINS): Widespread rainfall continued to batter Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, disrupting normal life, triggering flash floods, waterlogging and landslides, while the Meteorological Department warned that the wet spell is likely to persist till July 23 with the possibility of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several districts.
News agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) reported that the rain-related incidents turned tragic in Poonch district, where seven persons lost their lives after a rain-triggered landslide buried a residential house in the Loran Domila Dhook area. Police, SDRF and rescue teams launched an operation and recovered all the bodies from the debris. The incident came amid widespread damage caused by continuous rainfall and flash floods across Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Earlier on Monday, two passengers were killed and six others injured after a passenger bus was struck by a shooting stone near Raggi Nallah on the Jammu-Kishtwar National Highway in Doda district.
The incident also led to the temporary closure of the highway after boulders hit several vehicles.
In a separate incident in the Kashtigarh area of Doda, a woman lost her life after being hit by a falling stone near her residence.
Meanwhile, the body of Vikas Ahmed, who had gone missing after being swept away in flash floods, was recovered from the Salani area of Rajouri on Monday.
The continuous heavy rainfall over the past two days has caused extensive damage to public and private infrastructure across the Jammu region. The rain-related death toll has risen to 10 in Poonch, while two persons have died in Rajouri and a Jal Shakti Department employee remains missing.
In Srinagar, heavy showers led to widespread waterlogging, affecting traffic and daily life in several localities. Among the other areas Bemina’s Al-Farooq Colony was among the worst-hit areas, where overflowing open drains submerged, leaving residents stranded and causing major inconvenience.
A cloudburst in Safapora area of Ganderbal district also triggered flash floods, causing a sudden rise in water levels and panic among residents. However, officials said no loss of life or property was reported.
According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Rajouri recorded the highest rainfall at 92.5 mm during the past 24 hours, followed by Poonch (78 mm), Chahta Jammu (59 mm), Katra (53.5 mm), Ganderbal (46 mm), Srinagar (45.6 mm) and Ramban (45.2 mm).
The MeT Department has forecast generally cloudy weather with frequent spells of rain and thunderstorms across Jammu and Kashmir from July 20 to July 23, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in several districts. It warned that Reasi and Udhampur are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall, particularly during afternoon, evening and late-night hours.
The department has also issued an advisory warning of flash floods, landslides, mudslides, shooting stones, rising water levels in rivers and nallahs, and waterlogging in low-lying areas, especially in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts.
Weather conditions are expected to improve slightly from July 24 to 27, although scattered rain and thundershowers are still likely at isolated places. The MeT has advised residents, pilgrims and travellers to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable areas during periods of intense rainfall, and follow advisories issued by the local administration. (KINS)
