In Jammu and Kashmir, 11 people, including a woman and her two children, were killed in fresh rain-related incidents across the Jammu region yesterday, raising the death toll to 23 over the past three days.

 

According to authorities, seven people went missing as persistent heavy rain hampered rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit districts of Rajouri and Poonch. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation following heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides in several districts of the Union Territory.

 

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. The chief minister has announced an ex gratia relief of 6 lakh rupees for the next of kin of each person who lost their life in the rain-related incidents in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. In another incident, two persons were killed in the Doda district when a passenger bus was hit by a rock that rolled down from a hillock near Raggi Nallah along the Jammu-Kishtwar National Highway in the Doda district. 

 

Emergency teams, including the NDRF, SDRF, J&K Police, and the Army, are deployed and on high alert in vulnerable areas. The Meteorological Department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir till July 23, prompting district administrations to issue advisories urging people to remain vigilant and avoid venturing near rivers, streams, nallahs and other water bodies. The chief minister directed all district administrations to submit situation reports every six hours until July 24 to strengthen monitoring and ensure a coordinated response.