Rain Havoc in J&K: Six More Die, Death Toll Climbs to 16

Six more people lost their lives in rain-related incidents across the Jammu division on Monday, taking the death toll to 16 over the past two days.

At least eight persons are still missing as persistent heavy rains hampered rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit districts of Poonch and Rajouri, officials said.

Four persons were killed and six others injured after falling boulders struck a passenger bus and a house in two separate incidents in the hilly Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

In the first incident, two persons were killed and several others injured after heavy shooting stones hit a passenger bus and multiple vehicles at Raggi Nallah in Doda district.

Officials said the sudden slide of stones and debris caught the vehicles on the highway, leading to casualties and extensive damage. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Following the incident, the highway was closed to traffic due to mudslides and continuous shooting stones in the area.

Authorities said restoration and clearance work is underway but is likely to take considerable time due to the prevailing weather conditions.

Commuters have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel on the route until the weather improves and the road is declared safe for traffic.

In addition, the body of an unidentified person was recovered from a damaged vehicle, officials said, adding that efforts are underway to establish the identity of the deceased.

Officials said the highway remained blocked as a couple of private vehicles were also hit by boulders in the area. However, their occupants escaped unhurt.

In another incident, a woman, identified as Shiv Devi, was killed after being struck by a shooting stone near her house in the Kashtigarh area of the district.

The body of Vikas Choudhary, who was washed away in flash floods, was recovered from the river in the Salani area of Rajouri town on Monday morning, officials said.

Heavy rain on Monday severely hampered rescue operations in both Poonch and Rajouri districts, a day after devastating flash floods and landslides claimed 12 lives and left several others missing. While 10 persons lost their lives and six others remain missing in Poonch, two persons were killed and one more, a Jal Shakti Department employee, is still missing in Rajouri.

The fresh spell of rain began around 3 a.m. in the twin border districts and continued unabated till the filing of this report, making rescue and search operations extremely difficult in the affected areas.

LG reviews the situation

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation following heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides in several districts of the Union Territory.

The lieutenant governor spoke with the senior officials and directed for swift relief and infrastructure restoration in affected areas.

In a post on X, the lieutenant governor has said:

“I spoke to senior officials today to assess the impact of heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides. I am deeply saddened by the loss of two lives in Doda, and my heart goes out to their families. Emergency teams, including the NDRF, SDRF, J&K Police, and the Army, are deployed and on high alert in vulnerable areas. Key roads in Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, and Udhampur have been reopened, and work to restore water supplies in several areas is ongoing. Field teams have also been directed to urgently evaluate damage to houses and public infrastructure.”

CM announces Rs 6 lakh ex gratia for kin of rain victims in Rajouri, Poonch

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 6 lakh for the next of kin of each person who lost his or her life in the rain-related incidents in Rajouri and Poonch districts as an immediate measure to support the bereaved families.

Expressing profound grief over the tragic loss of lives caused by flash floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents, the Chief Minister said that no amount of financial assistance could compensate for the irreparable loss suffered by the affected families, but the Government stands firmly with them during this difficult time.

“While no amount of financial assistance can ever compensate for the irreparable loss of life caused by yesterday’s flash floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents in Poonch and Rajouri, an ex gratia relief of Rs 6 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased as an immediate measure of support for the bereaved families,” the Chief Minister said.

The relief package comprises Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and an additional Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).

The announcement follows a high-level review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on Sunday evening in the aftermath of the devastating flash floods and other rain-related incidents that struck the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch, resulting in multiple fatalities and widespread damage to public and private property.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the administration to ensure immediate relief and rehabilitation of the affected families, stressing that all possible assistance should reach them without delay. He also underscored the need for coordinated efforts by all concerned departments to restore essential services and expedite relief measures in the affected areas.