Jammu, July 22: Search operations entered the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday to trace eight villagers who remain missing after the devastating flash floods and cloudburst that struck Surankote in Poonch district, even as heavy rainfall continued to wreak havoc across several parts of Jammu division.
According to officials, teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Police and local volunteers continued extensive searches along the Suran River in an effort to locate the missing persons.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Surankote, Farooq Khan Nazki, said that seven bodies have been recovered so far out of the 15 persons reported missing after Sunday’s disaster. The remaining eight are feared to have either been swept away by the floodwaters or buried beneath debris triggered by the cloudburst.
The tragedy unfolded in Domail hamlet, where landslides and house collapses claimed several lives. Funeral prayers for the seven deceased were offered on Tuesday before they were laid to rest at Arigam in Loran.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall disrupted normal life across the Jammu region. The Jammu-Poonch National Highway remained blocked for more than four hours due to landslides at Madana and Sheindra before traffic was restored. The Chandak-Mandi road was also temporarily closed at Chakatroo following a landslide but was reopened after clearance operations.
Power supply in Poonch district remained affected for the fourth successive day after flash floods damaged electricity infrastructure, including poles, towers and two transformers in Surankote. Drinking water supply to Poonch town, Mandi, Mendhar and Surankote also continued to remain disrupted.
Executive Engineer, Power Development Department (PDD), Poonch, Aftab Ahmed, said restoration work was underway and electricity supply was expected to be restored by Wednesday morning.
In another rain-related incident, a residential house belonging to Muhammad-ud-Din of Arai Peeran partially collapsed, leaving him injured. He was shifted from SDH Mandi to District Hospital Poonch, where doctors said his condition was stable.
The Thannamandi-DKG-Bufliaz road remained closed for the fourth consecutive day following flash floods, disrupting access to the historic Mughal Road and affecting patients, students, traders, government employees and transporters across the Pir Panjal region.
In Kathua district, incessant rain washed away a portion of the Old Samba-Kathua Road after the Sahar Khad overflowed. The approach road to Sherpur village was also damaged, disrupting connectivity for nearly 15 to 20 villages. Residents have appealed to the administration to provide an alternate route.
The district administration has issued an advisory urging people to stay away from rivers, streams and other water bodies while avoiding unnecessary travel in vulnerable areas as adverse weather is expected to persist.
In Udhampur district, electricity remained snapped in Latti, Dudu, Jakhed, Panchount and several adjoining villages after rain damaged power infrastructure. Officials said restoration efforts were in progress.
Police and SDRF personnel also rescued two persons who had become stranded in the Bhinni River in Billawar after water levels receded. In Bani, a middle-aged woman reportedly lost her life in a rain-related incident at a remote dhok, while further details were awaited.
Heavy rainfall also affected several roads in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts. The Gai-Dessa road remained blocked for the second consecutive day, while the Batote-Doda-Bhaderwah and Kishtwar roads continued to remain open.
Authorities have also sounded an alert as water levels in the Chenab, Tawi, Basantar and Ujh rivers continued to rise. The Chenab at Akhnoor was flowing at around 30 feet on Wednesday morning and was still rising, prompting authorities to advise people living in low-lying areas to stay away from riverbanks. [KNT]
