Poonch, Rajouri flood situation under close watch; rescue ops on war footing, Amarnath Yatra suspended: LG Sinha

Baramulla, July 19: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said the administration is closely monitoring the flood situation in Poonch and Rajouri following flash floods, landslides and a cloudburst, while rescue and relief operations are underway on a war footing across the affected areas.
Speaking to reporters in Baramulla, Sinha said the administration has been placed on high alert and multiple agencies, including the Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Police and civil administration, have been deployed for search, rescue and relief operations.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Poonch and Rajouri. Search and rescue operations are underway on a war footing to trace missing persons and provide immediate assistance to those affected,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He said the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure in view of the prevailing weather conditions.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Sinha said the exact number of casualties would be shared after official confirmation. He added that the administration is in constant touch with officials on the ground and has directed all concerned departments to expedite rescue operations, assess the damage and ensure every possible assistance reaches the affected families.
“The Army, SDRF, Police and other agencies are working in close coordination. Officials have been asked to prioritise damage assessment and casualty verification,” he said.
Earlier, while addressing a gathering in Baramulla, the Lieutenant Governor also said that the 100-day Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir campaign will conclude on Monday.
“During these 100 days, volunteers reached villages and towns across Jammu and Kashmir, met affected families, supported them and worked with complete dedication to make society free from the menace of drugs,” he said.