Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 20: At least five people were killed and hundreds of people stranded as flash floods triggered by intense overnight rainfall wreaked havoc in Dharamkund village near the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district.
At least one person was still reported missing with about 10 houses completely destroyed while 25 to 30 others suffered partial damage. The natural calamity, accompanied by landslides, hailstorms, and fierce winds, caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure, displacing dozens of families and blocking the National Highway at multiple locations.
“Lightning struck Jamedi village, Arnas, in Reasi [on Sunday]. It left two locals dead. Around 40 cattle perished in the lightning,” Gujjar leader Talib Hussain said. In a separate case, three people, including two children, died due to a house collapse in Bagna, Ramban, officials said. The J&K Government has not issued any official toll of the number of people dead or injured due to cloudbursts and landslides in J&K.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Centre, Srinagar has issued a fresh weather advisory regarding an active Western Disturbance expected to affect J&K on April 20. It warned of thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorm and gusty winds, especially across the Pir Panjal Range, Jammu Division, and middle/higher reaches of Kashmir Division.
It urged the public to avoid visiting riverbanks, streams, and other water bodies. “Do not travel to higher reaches unless absolutely necessary. Secure loose items and avoid taking shelter under trees during thunderstorms. Farmers are advised to take necessary precautions to protect crops and livestock,” it added.
Parts of J&K witnessed freaky weather in the past 48 hours, marked by lightning, gusty winds, hailstorm and snowfall. Apple orchards in north and south Kashmir bore the brunt of hailstorm. Meanwhile, cloudburst and flash floods triggered landslides on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Ramban, resulting in blockade at five places.
The debris of landslides damaged houses, shops and the highway. Scores of vehicles were also damaged and remain buried under the debris on the highway in Ramban. Dozens of commuters also remain stranded in the highway that connects the Kashmir valley with the Jammu division.
According to local authorities, the water level in a nearby nullah surged dramatically due to relentless rain, turning into a flash flood that swept through Dharamkund village near the Chenab bridge. Despite the destruction, a swift response by the Dharamkund police and the district administration led to the safe evacuation of nearly 90 to 100 people trapped in the affected area.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban, Kulbir Singh, has confirmed three deaths. He said three people-including two children-died after a house collapsed in Bagna village due to heavy rainfall. Singh also stated that more than 100 people have been rescued so far and shifted to safer locations.
Two hotels, several shops, and multiple residential structures have suffered damage across the district. Videos from the site captured the scale of destruction-mud-filled waters gushing through homes, collapsed structures, and vehicles buried under debris. Rescue visuals showed women and children being escorted to safer areas as water levels continued to rise.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over the tragic landslide and flash floods in Ramban, which have led to significant loss of life and property. Extending his condolences to the affected families, he assured that the government was in constant coordination with local authorities to ensure prompt rescue and relief operations.
“We are closely monitoring the situation, and I will be reviewing restoration and rehabilitation measures later today,” the Chief Minister said, urging citizens to adhere to travel advisories and avoid unnecessary movement in vulnerable areas as immediate efforts focus on ground-level crisis management.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh acknowledged the severity of the situation and lauded the district administration’s prompt action. “There was a heavy hailstorm, multiple landslides, and fast winds throughout the night in the Ramban region. The National Highway stands blocked, and unfortunately, there have been three casualties and loss of property for several families,” he said in a statement.
The SSP Traffic National Highway (Ramban), Raja Adil Hamid Ganaie, confirmed that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked at five locations due to landslides and shooting stones. He stated that clearance work would commence once weather conditions improve.
