At least 25 people were rescued by Jammu and Kashmir Police after flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall inundated the Ari area of Mendhar subdivision in Poonch district on Friday.

Officials told GNS that the intense downpour caused water to enter dozens of houses and led to soil erosion in several villages. The sudden rise in water levels also affected Harni and Gursai areas of Mendhar sub-division, where standing crops suffered extensive damage.

Mendhar Police and the civil administration rushed to the spot and launched rescue and assessment operations. Teams evacuated residents from low-lying areas and provided assistance to affected families.

Senior PDP leader Waseem Rafiq Hussain Khan also visited the affected areas. He demanded immediate compensation for families whose houses were damaged and for farmers whose crops were destroyed. He also urged the administration to provide other necessary relief and rehabilitation facilities to the flood-hit residents.

The administration said a detailed assessment of the losses is underway.