Jammu, July 27: An intensified search operation is underway in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir for seven individuals who went missing following flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall on July 19. The Army has deployed a specially trained dog squad to assist in locating the missing persons, including a government employee and members of two families.
The Chenab Times has learned that rescue teams, comprising personnel from the police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the civil administration, have been combing the affected areas. The search efforts are being conducted despite challenging terrain and the ongoing impact of the recent heavy monsoon rains that have caused widespread devastation across the twin border districts.
Among the missing is Abdul Ghani, a daily-wage worker with the Jal Shakti Department, who was inside a water pumping station when it was swept away by the flash floods. His disappearance was reported after the deluge occurred on July 19. In the Surankote area of Poonch district, which has been the most severely affected, multi-agency teams are actively searching riverbanks, nallahs, and other flood-hit locations for six other individuals. These six missing persons belong to two different families from the Lower Murrah and Sangla villages in Surankote.
The natural disaster on July 19 resulted in significant loss of life, with 22 people confirmed dead, predominantly in the Surankote region. The torrential rains also caused extensive damage to essential infrastructure, including roads and bridges, as well as private properties and agricultural land. The heavy rainfall also led to additional fatalities in the Doda and Ramban districts, with five more lives lost.
Rescue operations are being supported by heavy machinery to clear debris from damaged houses and to restore accessibility to the affected areas. Officials have stated that the rescue and relief efforts will persist until all the missing persons are accounted for. The deployment of the dog squad by the Army aims to enhance the efficiency and reach of the search teams in the difficult terrain, leveraging the dogs’ specialized skills in detecting individuals in disaster-affected zones.
The meteorological conditions have recently improved, allowing for the resumption and intensification of search operations that were previously hampered by adverse weather. The coordinated efforts by various agencies underscore the commitment to finding the missing individuals and providing assistance to those affected by the natural calamity in the Poonch and Rajouri districts.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
