Rajouri district flood destroys crops, Indian agriculture department launches damage survey

Heavy rains and flash flooding on July 19 devastated the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, washing away standing rice and corn crops, especially in the village of Athi. The state agriculture department has begun a district‑wide survey to document crop losses and process compensation under the Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme (PMFBY) and other relief programmes.

Chief Agricultural Officer Rajesh Verma led inspection teams to the hardest‑hit areas, meeting directly with affected farmers and recording damage. Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma dispatched additional officials to ensure rapid assistance. The department pledged that no eligible farmer will be omitted from the survey, and that both insured and uninsured growers will receive financial aid based on the findings, which will be forwarded to district and central authorities for prompt relief.

The flood has left hundreds of families facing an immediate livelihood crisis, prompting calls for swift rehabilitation of the damaged agricultural land.