Jammu: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday reviewed the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir after torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cut short his Delhi visit and rushed back to Jammu to personally oversee relief and rescue operations.
Shah, who is on a three-day visit to West Bengal, spoke to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take stock of the situation.
He assured the Union Territory administration of all possible assistance from the Centre to ensure the safety and security of the affected population.
The heavy overnight rainfall caused widespread devastation across parts of the Jammu division, particularly in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
According to officials, the death toll has risen to 12, while several people remain missing and rescue operations are continuing despite adverse weather conditions.
The worst-hit areas include Surankote tehsil in Poonch district, where multiple fatalities were reported after flash floods and landslides swept through villages.
In Rajouri district, overflowing streams inundated low-lying localities, forcing hundreds of residents to shift to safer locations.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also reviewed the evolving situation and directed all district administrations to ensure immediate rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures. He instructed officials to provide prompt assistance to affected families and maintain close coordination among all emergency response agencies.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in Delhi to participate in the National Conference’s proposed statehood restoration protest scheduled for Monday, cut short his visit in view of the worsening weather conditions and returned to Jammu on Sunday afternoon.
Soon after his arrival, Abdullah chaired a high-level review meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, attended by senior civil and police officials, including the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
During the meeting, officials briefed the Chief Minister on the prevailing situation, rescue efforts and preparedness across the Union Territory.
The Chief Minister directed the administration to remain on maximum alert and ensure swift emergency response in vulnerable areas.
He instructed officials to keep men, machinery and essential services fully prepared to deal with any further emergencies.
Abdullah also reviewed the availability of essential commodities, including food, medicines and drinking water, across all districts.
He directed authorities to ensure immediate outreach to affected families, timely distribution of relief, and restoration of disrupted road and power connectivity at the earliest.
Expressing deep grief over the loss of lives caused by flash floods and landslides, the Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
“The government is closely monitoring the situation and will ensure that relief, rescue and rehabilitation measures are carried out swiftly and effectively in all affected areas,” he said, adding that the administration, SDRF, police and other agencies have been mobilised for rescue operations.
Earlier in the day, Abdullah said he had been in constant touch with local legislators from the affected regions and stressed that protecting human lives remained the government’s highest priority.
“In light of the weather warning issued by the Meteorological Department and the seriousness of the situation unfolding across parts of Jammu division, I decided to leave Delhi and personally monitor the situation on the ground,” he said.
He directed all district administrations to submit situation reports every six hours until July 24 to strengthen monitoring and ensure a coordinated response.
Abdullah passed the directive at a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat here to review the situation arising from incessant rainfall leading to flash floods in Poonch and Rajouri.
The chief minister also assessed the preparedness of the administration to deal with any weather-related eventuality across Jammu and Kashmir.
To strengthen monitoring during the ongoing weather conditions, the chief minister directed that, beginning today and till July 24, every district shall submit situation reports every six hours to the respective divisional commissioner, who will consolidate and forward the reports to Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction.
“The department will compile the reports and circulate them to the offices of the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India,” Abdullah said, expressing hope that the reporting mechanism could be discontinued after July 24 if weather conditions improve.
