Heavy downpour slows search and rescue efforts in flood-hit J&K; death toll reaches 12
Heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir has severely hampered search and rescue operations following flash floods and landslides that killed 12 people. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the Meteorological Department forecasts continued heavy rain through July 23.
Why it matters
The disaster highlights the increasing vulnerability of mountainous regions to extreme weather events, necessitating improved disaster management and infrastructure resilience.
Heavy rain on Monday (July 20, 2026) severely hampered rescue operations in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, a day after devastating flash floods and landslides claimed 12 lives and left several others missing.
The fresh spell of rain began around 3 a.m. in the twin border districts and continued unabated till the last reports were received, making rescue and search operations difficult in the affected areas, officials said.
Swollen streams, slippery terrain and poor visibility hindered the movement of rescue teams, who have been racing against time to trace the missing.
At least 12 persons were killed in separate rain-related incidents in the two districts on Sunday (July 19, 2026), while the fate of seven people missing, including an employee of the Jal Shakti Department, remains unknown.
ALSO WATCH Watch: Flash floods hit J&K’s Rajouri; rescue teams evacuate hundreds
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