Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 6 (ANI): Heavy rainfall has caused the rise of water levels in the Dharhali and Saktoh rivers in Rajouri district.

Several states of India are facing heavy rainfall after the arrival of monsoon, causing waterlogging, floods and rising water levels of rivers and lower-level areas.

The neighbouring state, Himachal Pradesh, is also experiencing the wrath of heavy rainfall, resulting in floods and loss of life in Mandi district.

Search teams continue to look for the missing persons in the flood-hit Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh as the toll reached to 75 in the hill state following monsoon havoc. The state has been experiencing rainfall, landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts.

Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan stated that the relief efforts have been hindered due to the 'geography' of delivering aid to the flood-affected people.

Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Devgan said, 'The main road of Thunag has been made motorable today. A few supply vehicles have also been placed there. Supplies have been sent with the help of mules also... The number of missing people is still 31. We have not found any missing persons. Special forces of around 250 State Disaster Relief Force-NDRF personnel are deployed. The whole administration is working 24*7.'

The official noted the challenge of rushing aid to the affected people amid the monsoon and amid the prospects of more rainfall in the next months.

'The relief work is challenging because of the geography. We are trying to reach habitations... this is just the beginning of monsoons. It is about to rain for the next three months. For us, the extra challenge is that we have to conduct the relief, rehabilitation and restoration program during the monsoons. We have full support of the government, providing all resources...' he stated.

On Saturday, a team of SDRF conducted a field visit to a village in Panchayat Jarode to extend emergency assistance to residents in disaster-affected areas and surveyed the impacted regions and identified vulnerable individuals in urgent need of aid.

Relief materials, including basic need kits and medical kits, were distributed to the affected families as part of the immediate response effort.

The team also assessed the medical conditions of several villagers and provided essential medicines on-site to those requiring immediate care. (ANI)