Houses damaged, highway blocked as flash flood hits J&K's Ramban; over 100 rescued: Key points

NEW DELHI: Flash floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain wreaked havoc across Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district on Sunday, killing at least three people and damaging dozens of homes.

The chaos was compounded by a cloudburst in Seri Bagna village, which claimed the lives of three residents -- including two brothers, Aqib Ahmad and Mohd Saqib.

Here are the key points:

• Rescue operations were still under way when last reports came in, with police and emergency teams battling rough weather to reach affected villagers.

• Over 100 people were safely rescued from flood-hit Dharam Kund village, where nearly 40 houses were damaged -- 10 of them completely washed away.

🚨 Ramban, J&K: Flash floods triggered by heavy rains hit a village near the Chenab River in Dharamkund.

10 houses fully damaged, 25–30 partially affected.

Around 90–100 people safely rescued by Dharamkund police. pic.twitter.com/7AXZV0uUm8

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) April 20, 2025

• The downpour led to multiple landslides and mudslides between Nashri and Banihal on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), forcing its closure.

• Hundreds of vehicles were stranded as stretches of the highway were rendered impassable, including a portion near Panthiyal that was swept away. Officials advised commuters to avoid travel until the road is cleared and weather improves.

#WATCH | J&K | A portion of NH 44 is damaged due to a landslide and a heavy hailstorm pic.twitter.com/pc7nu4a8up

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2025

• The latest casualties bring the rain-related death toll in the Jammu region to five in the last 48 hours. On Saturday, two people, including a woman, were killed and another injured by lightning strikes in Reasi’s Arnas area.

• A senior government official confirmed "massive damage" in the district due to landslides, hailstorms, and strong winds, saying the immediate priority was to protect lives. An official meeting was scheduled for later in the day to assess the situation and plan aid.

• Union minister and Udhampur MP Jitendra Singh, who has been closely monitoring the developments, praised the swift response of the Ramban district administration led by Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary.

• Singh, in a post on X, highlighted the challenging weather conditions and said relief efforts, including financial support, were being extended. He added that his personal resources were also available for those in need and urged the public to remain calm.

#Ramban #JammuAndKashmir: 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 3 casualties and loss of…

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 20, 2025

• “The district administration deserves appreciation for timely and prompt action, which helped save several precious lives,” he said.

• Authorities continue to assess damage and provide relief, while NH-44 remains shut, cutting off the Kashmir Valley’s only all-weather road link with the rest of the country.