JAMMU, July 25, 2026 : A 45-year-old woman lost her life while her husband and son were injured after their house collapsed in Rajouri district as fresh spells of light to moderate rainfall continued across large parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.
With the latest fatality, the rain-related death toll in the Union Territory has climbed to 30 since July 19, while six persons, including a government employee, remain missing. Search and rescue operations are continuing in the affected districts.
The deceased was identified as Shahida Parveen, a resident of Bhatian village in Thanamandi, Rajouri. According to officials, the house collapsed amid heavy rainfall, killing her on the spot. Her husband, Abdul Rehman, and son, Toufeeq Rehman, sustained injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital by rescue teams.
Despite intermittent rainfall, weather conditions showed signs of improvement, allowing authorities to reopen the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway after it remained closed for three days due to multiple landslides and road blockages.
The improving weather also enabled authorities to partially resume the Shri Amarnath Yatra and the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, both of which had been suspended since July 19 because of persistent rainfall and unsafe travel conditions.
Officials said the pilgrimages have resumed in a regulated and phased manner after a detailed assessment of weather conditions and route safety. More than 6,000 pilgrims departed from Jammu for Kashmir as the Baltal route of the Amarnath Yatra reopened. However, the Pahalgam route remains temporarily closed until further review.
Similarly, the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage atop the Trikuta Hills in Reasi district also resumed partially, bringing relief to thousands of devotees who had been waiting for the pilgrimage to restart.
According to officials, Poonch district has emerged as the worst-affected region, reporting 18 deaths and five of the six missing persons. Rajouri has recorded three deaths and one missing person, while Doda and Ramban districts have reported three and two fatalities, respectively.
In the Kashmir Valley, a mother and son lost their lives after being swept away in flash floods in Bandipora district, while another person drowned in Budgam district.
Moderate to heavy rainfall continued in Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi, while Jammu, Samba, and Kathua experienced light showers throughout the day. Despite the widespread rainfall, officials said that water levels in major rivers, including the Tawi and Chenab, remained within the normal range.
Authorities have urged residents and pilgrims to remain cautious, as the Meteorological Department has forecast the continuation of the wet spell in parts of the Jammu region over the coming days.
