J&K floods: Schools shut, Amarnath yatra halted, Srinagar’s Ghanta Ghar impacted

The death toll has touched 28, with several people still missing.

4 min readSrinagarUpdated: Jul 21, 2026 04:52 AM IST

Residents gather in the aftermath of torrential rain-triggered landslides and flash floods, at Dhara Sangla village of Surankote tehsil, in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (PTI Photo)

Images of a flooded Ghanta Ghar in Srinagar circulated on social media as rain continued to lash several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. As the Met office forecast more rain over the next two days, the J&K government has placed its key departments on alert.

In advisories issued across districts in the Valley, people have been urged to remain vigilant and avoid venturing near hill slopes, rivers and streams due to the heightened risk of flash floods and landslides.

A damaged house after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Nalla Awoora area, Pahalgam, Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (PTI Photo)

“In light of the forecast issued from July 20-23 by the Indian Meteorological department, the general public is hereby advised to exercise due caution,” reads the advisory. “Residents, particularly those living in the vulnerable areas and in proximity of the higher reaches, are strongly advised to avoid unnecessary movement in and around slopes, high altitudes and hilly areas for the period until the weather conditions show improvement”.

The government has also put its key departments on high alert. “All the concerned departments … are requested to remain on alert and take all necessary precautions and response measures,” the advisory further read.

Also Read | House damaged in Kashmir flash floods, owner wins Rs 23 lakh insurance claim

This comes after 10 more people were killed following landslides in Poonch and Doda districts, taking the total death toll in J&K to 28 in the last 24 hours.

Seven members of a family were killed in a landslide that buried their house in the upper reaches of Loran in Poonch district, while three people were killed and five injured at separate places in Doda district.

Poonch: Residents gather in the aftermath of torrential rain-triggered landslides and flash floods, at Dhara Sangla village of Surankote tehsil, in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (PTI Photo)

The alert in the valley came after torrential rain wreaked havoc in Jammu’s Rajouri and Poonch districts, where flash floods swept away homes and people. Several people are still missing.

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J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced compensation of Rs 6 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed. “While no amount of financial assistance can ever compensate for the irreparable loss of life caused by yesterday’s flash floods, landslides and other rain related incidents in Poonch and Rajouri, the Chief Minister has announced ex gratia relief of Rs 6 lakh for the next of kin if each deceased as an immediate measure of support for the bereaved families,” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a release. “The relief comprises Rs 4 lakh from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and an additional Rs 2 lakhs from the Chief Minister’s relief fund”.

The Met department has forecast more rain across Jammu and Kashmir over the next three days. It has predicted rain with “intense showers” in parts of the Union Territory till July 23. While “heavy rain/intense heavy rain or torrential showers” are expected in some districts, “extremely heavy rain” is forecast in the Reasi and Udhampur districts of the Jammu region.

The weather advisory has warned of flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and a rise in water levels in rivers and streams.

The Met said 92.5 mm of rain was recorded in Rajouri over the last 24 hours, 59 mm in Chatha, Jammu, 53.5 mm in Katra and 78 mm in Poonch. In the valley, 46 mm of rainfall was recorded in Ganderbal and 45.6 mm in Srinagar.

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As a precautionary measure, the government has extended the summer vacation by three days and shut all government and recognised private schools in the valley till July 22.

The government has also suspended the Amarnath Yatra from both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes.

Control rooms have been set up in every district, and people have been asked to call the toll-free numbers in case of an emergency or for assistance.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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