JAMMU, July 23: The death toll from the recent rain-triggered flash floods and landslides in the Jammu region has risen to 26 following the recovery of the body of a 25-year-old woman in Poonch district, officials said on Thursday.
The body of Khalida Kouser (25), wife of Yasar Iqbal and a resident of Murrah village, was recovered near the Fazalabad footbridge in Surankote during an ongoing search operation. She had been swept away in the devastating flash floods that struck the area on the night of July 18.
Officials said the decomposed body was shifted to the Sub-District Hospital, Surankote, where it was identified by village Lambardar Zakir Hussain. After completion of legal formalities, the body was handed over to her family for the last rites.
With the latest recovery, the death toll in Poonch district has climbed to 17, the highest among the affected districts, while the overall toll in the Jammu region has reached 26.
Across Jammu and Kashmir, 29 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents, including two deaths in Bandipora and one in Budgam district in the Kashmir Valley.
Among those who lost their lives in the Murrah flash flood tragedy are Noor Safia (59), Sajad Ahmed (16), Haqnawaz Ahmed (11), Shahnawaz Ahmed (11), Khalida Kouser (25), Sofian (2), Bano Bi (60) and Mohd Akram (7), along with several other victims.
Officials said search operations are continuing, with six people still missing following the devastating flash floods in the district.
