Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir – The serene valleys of Ramban district turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy early Sunday as relentless rains unleashed flash floods, landslides, and a deadly cloudburst, claiming three lives and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Among the victims were two brothers, Aqib Ahmad and Mohd Saqib, whose lives were swept away when a sudden cloudburst pounded Seri Bagna village. Rescue teams, battling against the elements, worked tirelessly to pull more than 100 stranded villagers to safety as raging waters swallowed homes and roads.
The disaster marks the latest chapter in a grim 48 hours for the Jammu region, where five people have now perished in rain-related incidents. Just a day earlier, lightning strikes in Reasi district killed two, including a woman, and left another injured. Meanwhile, in Dharam Kund village, flash floods tore through residential areas, leaving 40 houses damaged—10 of them completely destroyed.
Highway Turned Hazard
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the lifeline connecting Kashmir to the rest of India, was left paralyzed as landslides and mudslides buried sections between Nashri and Banihal. Traffic came to a standstill, stranding hundreds of travelers along the 250-kilometer stretch. Near Panthiyal, a segment of the road simply vanished, swallowed by the torrent.
Despite the peril, police and local authorities mounted a heroic effort, navigating collapsing terrain and relentless downpours to evacuate those trapped. Several vehicles were lost to the floods, but officials confirmed all stranded commuters had been moved to safety.
A District Under Siege
A senior government official, speaking anonymously, described the devastation as “massive,” with heavy rain, hailstorms, and high-velocity winds compounding the crisis. “Our priority right now is saving lives,” the official stressed, adding that a full damage assessment—and subsequent relief efforts—would follow once the immediate danger passed.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised the Ramban district administration for its swift response, crediting their efforts with preventing further loss of life. In a post on X, he acknowledged the heartbreaking casualties and property damage but urged calm, vowing, “We shall all, together, overcome this natural calamity.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called an emergency meeting to coordinate relief operations, while Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary’s team remains on high alert. With more rain forecast, the people of Ramban brace for what may still come—hoping for respite, but preparing for the worst. For now, the mountains weep, and a community mourns. The road to recovery will be long.
