Flash floods in J&K's Rajouri kill at least 11; Vaishno Devi yatra remains suspended

Incessant overnight rain triggered devastating flash floods and landslides across Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri and Poonch districts on Sunday, leaving at least 11 people dead and several others missing. The natural disaster caused widespread destruction, damaging infrastructure, sweeping away vehicles, and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. Officials reported that nine casualties occurred in Poonch district due to a tragic house collapse, while one fatality was reported in Rajouri as torrential rain compromised the hilly terrain.

Rajouri town suffered extreme flooding after major rivers, including the Darhali, Khandli, Suktoh, and Jamola, overflowed well above their designated danger marks. The Darhali River breached a critical flood protection wall near Bela Colony, causing massive volumes of water to submerge the new bus stand and wash away dozens of parked vehicles. Furthermore, a slum settlement near the Abdullah Bridge was inundated, forcing more than 50 families to flee their residences as emergency teams worked continuously to respond to multiple SOS distress calls.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the local administration and police personnel established emergency control rooms and launched extensive rescue operations to move vulnerable families away from the riverbanks. Amid the extremely volatile weather conditions, the holy yatra of Mata Vaishno Devi remains suspended until further orders. Hundreds of devotees are stranded in Katra waiting for the pilgrimage to reopen. Earlier, the holy yatra of Amarnath was also suspended.