Torrential rains in Jammu and Lahmir triggered landslides and flash floods in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, prompting a multi-agency rescue operation

he worst devastation was reported from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district, where most of the fatalities occurred, while rescue teams raced against time to trace the missing amid continuing rain and damaged roads

As a weather advisory warned of moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir till July 23, the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch experienced relentless rain from Saturday evening, leading to overflowing rivers and streams after a night of heavy downpour

 Dozens of vehicles were swept away or submerged after overflowing rivers breached their banks, causing widespread disruption

A landslide triggered by torrential rains struck a house in the Lower Murrah village of Surankote during the early hours of Sunday, burying all eight occupants under the debris