Jammu flash flood toll rises to 26; highway shut for second day, 6 missing

Two rescued from swollen Tawi; over 600 vehicles stranded, pilgrimages remain suspended amid heavy rains

24/07/2026

JAMMU, Jul 23: The death toll in rain-triggered flash floods and landslides across the Jammu region rose to 26 on Thursday following the recovery of a woman's body in Poonch district, while the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the second consecutive day and two persons trapped in the swollen Tawi river were rescued, officials said.
The body of Khalida Kouser, 25, wife of Yasar Iqbal of Murrah village, was recovered near the Fazalabad footbridge in Surankote during a search operation. She had been washed away in the devastating flash floods that struck the area on the night of July 18.
Officials said the body was shifted to the Sub-District Hospital, Surankote, where it was identified by village lambardar Zakir Hussain. After completion of legal formalities, it was handed over to her family for last rites.
With the latest recovery, the death toll in Poonch district has risen to 17, the highest among the affected districts, while 26 people have died across the Jammu region.
Overall, 29 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Jammu and Kashmir, including two in Bandipora and one in Budgam district in the Kashmir valley, officials said.
Search operations are continuing in the flood and landslide-hit areas as six people remain missing.
Meanwhile, the 250-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, remained closed for the second consecutive day following landslides, shooting stones and road erosion at multiple locations.
The highway has been blocked at five places between Jakhani in Udhampur district and Banihal in Ramban district.
"Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is still closed for vehicular movement due to landslides and shooting stones at several locations," a traffic police advisory said.
Officials said restoration work was underway, but continuing rainfall was hampering efforts to clear debris and repair damaged stretches.
More than 600 vehicles remained stranded at different locations, including Ramban, Nagrota, Jammu, Udhampur, Lakhanpur and Samba. Authorities advised people to avoid travelling on the highway until it was restored and declared safe.
More than a dozen inter-district roads were also closed due to landslides, mudslides and erosion, while the Doda-Kishtwar road remained shut.
The Mughal Road, connecting Kashmir with Poonch, and the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road, linking Kashmir with Ladakh, remained open for traffic.
The prolonged spell of inclement weather also kept the pilgrimages to the cave shrines of Shri Amarnath Ji, Mata Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori suspended for the fifth consecutive day.
Over 6,000 pilgrims were stranded at various base camps and lodging facilities in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Ramban and Banihal, officials said.
Security arrangements were put in place along the highway to prevent vehicles carrying pilgrims from proceeding towards Kashmir until the route was declared safe.
Almost all major rivers and streams were flowing in spate following incessant rainfall, while flash floods inundated several low-lying areas and damaged houses, shops and infrastructure.
The Chenab at Akhnoor and Tawi in Jammu had crossed the danger mark on Wednesday, prompting authorities to intensify monitoring and issue safety advisories.
Amid the continuing flood situation, police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel rescued two persons trapped in the Tawi river near Prambli in the Phallian Mandal area on Thursday.
Farman Ali, 25, and Farooq Ahmed, 28, had gone to the riverbank with their cattle for grazing when the water level suddenly rose, leaving them stranded in the middle of the river.
After receiving information, the Phallian Mandal police post alerted the SDRF through the Police Control Room and a rescue team rushed to the spot.
Following sustained efforts, both men were safely rescued without injuries and handed over to their families.
The Meteorological Department forecast moderate to heavy rainfall and warned of another spell of rain on Friday under the influence of an active western disturbance.
Reasi recorded the highest rainfall of 119.5 mm, followed by Katra at 97.4 mm, Ramban 71.5 mm, Jammu 60.6 mm, Batote 60.4 mm, Udhampur 53.2 mm and Banihal 53 mm.
In the Kashmir valley, Qazigund recorded 73.3 mm rainfall, followed by Pahalgam at 60.2 mm, Kokernag 47.9 mm and Gulmarg 39 mm.
The rains have caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, power infrastructure and water supply systems across the region.
Teams from the civil administration, police, SDRF, National Disaster Response Force and other agencies continued rescue, relief and restoration operations in affected areas.
Officials said restoration of essential services, evacuation of people from vulnerable areas and relief to affected families remained the administration's priority.

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