11 dead in J-K as cloudburst hits Ramban, landslide flattens home in Reasi

Eleven people lost their lives in two separate rain-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, as a cloudburst in Ramban and a landslide in Reasi district led to widespread devastation across the region.

In Ramban, four people, including two brothers, died after a cloudburst struck a remote village, damaging two houses and a school, officials said.

The cloudburst triggered flash floods in the mountainous Rajgarh, located about 25 kilometres from the district headquarters, around 11.30 pm on Friday, they said.

“Bodies of four people were recovered from underneath the debris after a hectic search by rescuers, comprising local volunteers, police and SDRF,” Deputy Commissioner of Ramban, Mohammad Alyas Khan, told PTI.

A search is on to recover the body of another missing person.

Khan, along with Ramban Senior Superintendent of Police Arun Gupta, reached the site in the early hours to supervise the rescue and relief operation.

The officials identified the deceased as Ashwani Sharma (24), his brother Dwarka Nath (55), niece Virta Devi (26) and their guest Om Raj (38), a resident of Banshara in Rajgarh. The rescuers are searching for Sharma's sister-in-law, Bidya Devi (55).

“The cloudburst happened on the hilltop village near the primary school and created a fast-flowing stream through the Drubla-Gudgram village, washing away two residential houses and a cowshed, besides the school building,” Ajay Kumar, a local, said.

He lauded the district administration and the quick reaction team of local volunteers led by Bashir Ahmad Magray for the prompt response to the calamity.

“The district administration is on high alert and is extending all possible assistance to the affected families,” Khan said.

Union minister Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed grief over the incident and assured all possible assistance to the affected families.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, seven members of a family were killed when a landslide struck a house in a remote village in Reasi district early on Saturday, officials said.

The landslide was triggered by heavy rains in Badder village of Mahore, and all seven bodies have been recovered, the officials said.

The deceased have been identified as Nazir Ahmad (38), his wife Wazira Begum (35) and their sons Bilal Ahmed (13), Mohd Mustafa (11), Mohd Adil (8), Mohd Mubarak (6) and Mohd Wasim (5).

Officials said Nazir and his family were asleep when their house on a hill slope came under the debris brought down by the landslide, burying them alive.

The locals frantically searched the debris and were later joined by police, but only managed to pull out the bodies.

Moderate to heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu and Kashmir overnight.

In the aftermath of the incidents, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed officials to ensure round-the-clock monitoring and carry out timely evacuation of residents from risk-prone zones.

The CM expressed sorrow over the tragic deaths. Taking note of the continuous heavy rains, he appealed to people to remain alert, avoid vulnerable areas, and strictly adhere to safety advisories.

“He has directed the district administration and disaster management authorities to remain on the ground, ensure round-the-clock monitoring, carry out timely evacuation of residents from risk-prone zones, and provide immediate relief and all possible assistance to the affected families,” the Chief Minister's office said in a post on X.

Abdullah has further instructed the concerned departments to remain vigilant, coordinate closely, and take every precautionary measure to safeguard lives in the inclement weather.

On the Ramban incident, the chief minister has directed the administration to carry out immediate rescue and relief operations. — with PTI inputs