Rescue authorities in Rajouri district are using cranes to retrieve cars and trucks swept away by flash floods on Tuesday [1, 2].

The recovery operation follows a sudden surge of the Rajouri River, which highlights the region's vulnerability to extreme weather and the immediate threat to infrastructure and human life.

Heavy overnight rainfall between Monday and Tuesday caused the river to overflow, triggering flash floods that swept through the district [3, 4]. The torrents carried away parked cars, commercial vehicles, and heavy trucks from various locations. Recovery crews are currently focused on sites such as the New Bella Bus Stand, where heavy machinery is required to lift damaged vehicles from the debris [1, 2].

Reports on the human cost of the disaster vary. Some reports state at least four people died [4], while other sources report that at least seven people died [3]. Several others remain missing as search and recovery work continues across the affected areas [4].

"Cranes are being used to retrieve vehicles from areas including the New Bella Bus Stand," ANI said [2].

The flash floods were accompanied by landslides in nearby areas, complicating the efforts of local authorities to reach all affected sites. The overflow of the Rajouri River caused widespread havoc, transforming roads into waterways and trapping vehicles in mud and water [3].

Local residents and rescue teams continue to clear the wreckage to restore normal traffic flow to the district. The use of cranes indicates the scale of the debris, and the weight of the commercial vehicles that were displaced by the water [1, 2].

“Cranes are being used to retrieve vehicles from areas including the New Bella Bus Stand.”

The disparity in fatality reports—ranging from four to seven deaths—suggests a chaotic early recovery phase where official tallies are still being reconciled. The reliance on heavy machinery to clear the New Bella Bus Stand underscores the destructive power of the Rajouri River's overflow, signaling a need for improved flood-mitigation infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir's river basins.