Rain Fury Kills 17 in Nagaland, Uttarakhand, J&K Bears Brunt With Cloudburst
Heavy rain warnings were also issued for Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and northern West Bengal
Srinagar: Torrential rain, flash floods and landslides killed at least 18 people and left 11 missing across Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland and Uttarakhand on Sunday, destroying houses, damaging infrastructure and disrupting road and pilgrimage movements.
Jammu and Kashmir bore the brunt of the monsoon fury, reporting 12 deaths in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Ten people died in Poonch’s Surankote area, while two, including a woman, were killed in Rajouri. Six people remained missing.
The worst devastation occurred at Lower Murrah in Surankote, where overnight rain triggered flash floods and landslides that buried houses and trapped families. Rescue teams searched for those feared swept away or buried under debris despite continuing rain and difficult terrain.
Swollen streams inundated villages in Poonch and Rajouri, while landslides damaged roads, bridges, vehicles and other infrastructure. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was repeatedly closed due to landslides and shooting stones, while traffic was disrupted on several other roads.
In Nagaland’s Mon district, four people were killed and five remained missing after flash floods and landslides damaged roads, inundated low-lying areas and disrupted connectivity.
Four people stranded in floodwaters at Naginimora were rescued and admitted to nearby health facilities. Personnel from the district administration, NSDMA, SDRF, Nagaland Police, Assam Rifles and medical teams, assisted by local volunteers, continued search and relief operations.
In Uttarakhand, two people were killed after being struck by lightning in Haridwar district. Landslides blocked 84 roads, including two national highways, while weather alerts were issued for several districts.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cut short his Delhi visit, skipping the National Conference’s proposed statehood protest, and rushed to Jammu to supervise relief efforts. He chaired a high-level meeting and directed officials to remain alert, restore road and power connectivity and expedite assistance to affected families.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed rescue operations and directed the administration to provide immediate relief. Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Sinha and Abdullah and assured them of the Centre’s support.
Army personnel, working with the police, SDRF and civil administration, rescued 11 people, including five children, in two operations in Rajouri. Nine people stranded near Churung village were evacuated, while two youths marooned on an island in the Naushera Tawi river were rescued near Dhangri.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio announced ex gratia assistance for the families of the deceased and relief for those affected.
Heavy rain warnings were also issued for Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and northern West Bengal. The weather office warned of landslides in the Himalayan region and rising levels in the Teesta, Torsa, Jaldhaka and Raidak rivers.
