5 killed as rain ravages J&K's Ramban, Reasi

JAMMU: Rain-triggered cloudbursts, landslides, and lightning have wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban and Reasi districts, killing five people, flattening houses, destroying fruit crops, sweeping away vehicles, and blocking highways.

Brothers Aqib Ahmad and Mohd Saqib, both 14, and Mani Ram (60) died when a cloudburst flattened their houses in Ramban’s Seri Bagna village early Sunday, Ramban DC Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary said. Two women lost their lives in a lightning strike in Reasi’s Dharhote village late Saturday. Around 50 sheep and goats also perished.

Flash floods damaged 40 houses --- 10 of them completely --- in Ramban. Security forces rescued 100 people trapped in collapsed houses amid incessant rain, which also triggered landslides at nearly a dozen locations between Nashri and Banihal along Jammu-Srinagar NH, disrupting traffic.

“Several vehicles were swept away in the flash flood. A portion of Jammu-Srinagar NH near Panthial in Ramban-Banihal sector was washed away,” police said.

Ramban’s DC and SSP reviewed the situation even as the rescue operations in the village were ongoing at the time of the last reports.

Authorities have directed all educational institutions, govt and private, in Ramban to remain closed on Monday.

“Rescued people have been shifted to a nearby govt school. We are monitoring the situation, and an assessment will be carried out later to provide help to the affected. Our priority is to safeguard human lives,” Ramban DC said.

Union minister Jitendra Singh said, “All forms of relief, including financial, are being provided. The request is not to panic. Together, we shall overcome this natural calamity.”

In another incident, over 100 houses suffered minor to partial damage after high-velocity winds swept through Kalakote in Rajouri district.