Ramban landslides: At least three people, including two children, were killed after heavy rain triggered flash floods at different places in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Sunday.
The incessant rainfall triggered landslides at over a dozen places between Nashri and Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, prompting traffic to be suspended, the officials said.
The officials said a cloudburst struck the Seri Bagna village of Ramban, resulting in the deaths of three persons, including two children.
With the latest fatalities, at least five people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the Jammu region in two days. Two people were killed and a woman was injured when they were struck by lightning in the Arnas area of Reasi district late on Saturday.
Ramban Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kulbir Singh said all police stations have been alerted.
The officials said about 40 residential houses were damaged after a flash flood hit Dharam Kund village. 10 houses were fully damaged while the rest suffered partial damage. Additionally, over 100 trapped villagers were rescued by police personnel who rushed to the spot despite the continuous downpour, adding several vehicles were swept away in the flood caused by a stream overflowing.
The locals and eyewitnesses shared their ordeal, describing how the natural disaster caused damage to their livelihoods and properties.
“I live on the other side, but even there, the flow of water was very strong, and e could not make it here in time. When I reached here, I saw the whole market, including my shop, had vanished… This is the first time I am seeing something like this," a Ramban resident, Om Singh, told news agency ANI.
Ravi Kumar, a shopkeeper in the area, said he owned two shops, both of which vanished overnight.
“I had two shops at the market… When we got to know at 4 am that the whole market had been washed away, we rushed here to find there was nothing left," he told the news agency.
“We didn’t know who to approach for help, what to do; we were clueless. These shops were our only source of livelihood. Now we have no shops and no land. I request the government to come and help us… It was a very scary sight, beyond imagination… We want our loans to be waived, we have nothing left," he added.
Another local resident, Pradeep Singh Raju requested Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide compensation to those who have lost their livelihoods to these flash floods.
“There were nearly 20-25 shops in this market… Some 20-25 motorbikes were parked in the market, and at around 3.30 am, the whole market got washed away. I want to request the Chief Minister and also Home Minister Amit Shah to provide compensation to those who have lost their livelihoods to these flash floods… Those affected should be rehabilitated… The shopkeepers have lost everything…" he said.
Sunil Kumar, a resident, was devastated to find his new car was damaged by the landslide.
“I was travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. Since it was raining, I booked a hotel in Ramban. At 3 am, this incident took place. When I came out, I saw that two floors of the hotel were inside the debris. Around 15 people were there on the top floor. We rescued all of them. My new car is completely damaged due to the landslide… Around 8-10 cars are stuck under the debris," he told ANI.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that officials are in touch with the local administration to facilitate prompt rescue operations wherever needed.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh appreciated the district administration headed by Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary for prompt action in saving precious lives.
“There was a heavy hailstorm, multiple landslides and fast winds throughout the night in the Ramban region, including the areas surrounding the Ramban town. The national highway stands blocked, and unfortunately, there have been three casualties and loss of property for a couple of families," he said in a post on X.
“I am in constant touch with the deputy commissioner. The district administration deserves appreciation for timely and prompt action, which helped save several precious lives," he added.
The Udhampur MP said every kind of relief — both financial and otherwise — was being provided.
“The deputy commissioner has been informed that, if need be, whatever more is required can be provided from the MP’s resources as well. The request is not to panic. We shall all, together, overcome this natural calamity," Singh said.
Indian Army personnel are providing food, medicines, and aid to those affected by the Ramban flash floods.
