MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Three people have died in rain-related incidents across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the third spell of monsoon rains, bringing the death tally to 10 since July 1.
According to the situation report issued by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) AJK, 212 houses have been affected across the region since July 1, including 58 houses fully damaged and 154 partially damaged.
As per the report, four houses were partially damaged in Jhelum Valley, and 19 houses were completely destroyed while 75 others sustained partial damage in Bagh due to torrential rain today, July 31.
The report, however, showed damage to life and property in Neelum, Muzaffarabad, Jhelum Valley, Bagh, Sudhanoti, Kotli and Mirpur districts since the first spell of monsoon from July 1.
In Muzaffarabad, five people were killed, including three children, while three men and a child were injured in rain-related incidents. A total of 37 houses were also reported affected in the district since July 1.
Two vehicles were swept away by flash floods, one watermill and cattle shed destroyed, while around 40 kilometres of roads were also affected in Muzaffarabad district.
Bagh was also affected by monsoon rains, where one female died, one injured, 28 houses were completely destroyed, and 83 were partially damaged. Several shops and livestock were also affected by the heavy rains.
Moreover, a man died in Jhelum Valley, and 16 houses were partially damaged by heavy rains in Jhelum Valley since July 1, the SDMA report said.
The report said a mosque was completely destroyed in Neelum, while two schools were partially damaged and two water mills were damaged. Sixteen pedestrian bridges were also washed away by floodwaters.
Furthermore, 12 houses were completely destroyed, and 29 were partially damaged in Neelum, with no loss of life or injuries reported.
In Kotli, one female and two children died, and one house was fully damaged, while in Mirpur and Sudhanoti two and four houses were damaged, respectively.
The SDMA said several communication routes and irrigation canals across the state had also sustained damage due to the ongoing rains.
Despite the damage, the authority said all major highways in Azad Kashmir remain open to all types of traffic.
The SDMA has forecast further rain accompanied by thunderstorms across AJK during the next 24 hours and urged citizens to remain cautious, particularly in vulnerable areas near rivers, streams and landslide-prone locations.
