Ramban: Flash floods triggered by intense overnight rainfall wreaked havoc in Dharamkund village near the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, claiming three lives and leaving one person missing. The water level in a nearby nallah surged dramatically due to relentless rain, turning into a flash flood that swept through Dharamkund village near the Chenab bridge. Ten houses were completely destroyed, while 25 to 30 others suffered partial damage.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban, Kulbir Singh, confirmed that three people-including two children-died after a house collapsed in Bagna village due to heavy rainfall. The deceased have been identified as Mohd Aqib (14), Mohd Sakib (9), and Mohan Singh (75), all residents of Bagna Panchayat. 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. 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.
Singh added that he was in constant touch with Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary and assured that financial aid and other support were being extended. “If need be, whatever more is required can be provided from my personal resources as well. Meanwhile, SSP Traffic National Highway (Ramban), Raja Adil Hamid Ganaie, confirmed that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is blocked at five locations due to landslides and shooting stones.
Scenes of devastation continue to unfold across Ramban, with visuals of damaged homes, landslide-hit roads, and stranded vehicles underscoring the urgency of restoration efforts. Authorities said that rescue operations are still underway and restoration work on the highway and affected infrastructure will begin as soon as the weather allows.