AJK Ravaged by Torrential Rains Floods and Landslides

News Desk 

Mirpur: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is grappling with the aftermath of a powerful monsoon spell, which has led to widespread flooding, landslides, and torrential rains across the region.

Mirpur, the divisional headquarters, has been severely affected by the deluge, with seasonal nullahs and streams overflowing and rivers swelling alarmingly.

On Saturday morning, a passenger bus narrowly avoided a massive landslide near Muzaffarabad, the state capital.

The AJK State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has issued a warning to residents near water bodies to exercise extreme caution, as the monsoon rains have intensified.

Since the rains began on Friday night, they have caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and telecommunication systems in Mirpur and surrounding areas.

Uprooted trees, hoardings, and electricity poles, along with several buildings showing cracks from landslides, are among the visible damages.

The low-lying Mirpur-Kotli Highway and city streets are inundated, disrupting vehicular traffic. The New City area, a recent development, is among the worst affected, with rainwater entering homes and causing structural damage.

Laborers and kiln owners are particularly hard hit, with their livelihoods severely disrupted by the ongoing rains, which are expected to persist for another 24 hours.

The AJK government has mobilized heavy machinery to clear landslides and restore traffic flow. However, with more rain forecasted in the coming days, the situation remains precarious.