Ten killed in flash floods in J&K’s districts; Army’s rescue operation saves 11 civilians

JAMMU, July 19: At least ten people were killed as flash floods wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri districts, officials said on Sunday, adding that several were missing.
The people were killed after flash floods struck the Lower Murrah area of Bufliaz in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district.
Block Medical Officer, Surankote, Dr Mohd Yousaf Choudhary, said that so far, eight bodies have been recovered while others are still missing.
Search and rescue operations are underway at the site. Of the ten deceased, eight have been idebntified — Noor Safia, wife of Mohd Latief, aged 59; Sajad Ahmed, son of Mohd Latief, aged 16; Haqnawaz Ahmed, son of Mohd Latief, aged 10; Shahnawaz Ahmed, son of Mohd Latief, aged 10; Khalda Kouser, wife of Yasar Iqbal, aged 25; Sofian, son of Yasar Iqbal, aged 2; Bano Bi, wife of Mohd Hussain, aged 60; and Mohd Akram, son of Mohd Liaqat, aged 7.
Officials said electric poles were uprooted and mobile network services were disrupted in several flood-affected areas of Poonch district. Police, Civil Administration and locals are on the spot. Authorities added that Mughal Road and the Rajouri-Poonch highway remain open for traffic.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of lives caused by flash floods and landslides in Poonch. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
The Army on Sunday carried out a swift rescue operation in the flash flood-affected Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir and saved 11 civilians.
A Defence Ministry statement said that in a remarkable display of courage, professionalism and commitment to humanitarian assistance, troops of the Indian Army under White Knight Corps, in close coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the civil administration, successfully rescued eleven civilians, including five children, stranded at different locations in the flood-affected Rajouri district following incessant rainfall and flash floods. (IANS)