Srinagar/Poonch, July 27 -- At least 28 people have lost their lives in cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides across Jammu and Kashmir during the first three weeks of July, with six persons still missing a week after the devastating Murrah flash flood in Poonch district.

The prolonged spell of heavy rainfall caused widespread damage to roads, bridges, power infrastructure, drinking water schemes, agricultural land and residential areas across both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions. Several people were also injured as rescue teams carried out evacuation and relief operations in multiple districts.

Meteorological officials said the Union Territory witnessed 15 to 16 cloudbursts during the first fortnight of July alone, an unusually high ...