At least 11 people were killed and several others missing as torrential rains unleashed landslides and flash floods across the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday (July 19, 2026), causing widespread damage to public and private infrastructure, and prompting large-scale rescue operations.
According to officials, Poonch district in the Pir Panjal valley was the worst affected. Six bodies were retrieved after flash floods swept away houses in Lower Murrah in the Bufliaz area of Surankote tehsil. “Four civilians are missing and rescue operations are under way,” officials said. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Shah was briefed about the situation. The Home Minister assured the L-G and the CM of all possible assistance from the Centre for the safety and security of the affected people, officials said.
Heavy rain since Sunday morning (July 19, 2026) also triggered flash floods in Rajouri and Kishtwar districts, damaging public property and washing away scores of vehicles. Multiple cloudbursts were also reported from Poonch, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts while landslides disrupted traffic in these areas.
Authorities on Sunday (July 19, 2026) temporarily suspended the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir as well as the pilgrimages to the Mata Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori shrines in Jammu after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast of widespread rainfall across the Union Territory over the next few days.
