Srinagar, July 21 -- By Anuj Kumar Verma

Heavy rains struck Rajouri and Poonch on July 19, 2026, and the Dharhali River surged over its banks.

The torrent swallowed the New Bus Stand area in Rajouri town, sweeping away dozens of houses and hundreds of vehicles. Twelve people died. A house collapsed in the downpour and killed nine in one blow in Poonch.

These losses join a grim tally that local authorities have watched accumulate for years.

The pattern repeats with punishing regularity.

Last year's monsoon season delivered over 150 deaths across Jammu and Kashmir and destroyed thousands of homes. Government figures confirm the scale: entire districts lost houses, livestock and crops. Bridges collapsed, roads washed out, and water syst...