At least 23 people have lost their lives and seven others have gone missing in separate incidents of floods and landslides in Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts since Sunday, while the prolonged spell of heavy rain has caused extensive damage to public infrastructure and private property, washed away roads and bridges, disrupted electricity and water supply in several areas.
Officials said rescue and relief operations were intensified in all the affected districts, with teams from the civil administration, police, SDRF, NDRF and other agencies working round the clock to evacuate stranded residents, restore connectivity and assess the damage.
Authorities have asked people to stay indoors unless necessary, avoid venturing near rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas, and strictly follow advisories issued by the administration as the bad weather continues.
The government is monitoring the situation closely, with the restoration of essential services and aid to affected families remaining a top priority, officials said.
In another development, Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana accompanied by Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma visited Rajouri district to review the flood situation, inspect the relief measures and assess the restoration of essential services in the district.
The ministers visited the Relief and Rehabilitation Center set up at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS), Rajouri, where they interacted with the displaced families at the centre.
They took care of their welfare and reviewed the facilities provided by the district administration, including accommodation, food, drinking water, health care and other essential services, an official spokesperson said.
(With data from PTI)
