SRINAGAR – A series of tragic rain-related incidents have claimed the lives of 11 people in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, as a cloudburst and a landslide struck two separate districts, causing widespread devastation.
In the Ramban district, a cloudburst on Friday night triggered flash floods in the remote village of Rajgarh, about 25 kilometres from the district headquarters. The calamity damaged two houses and a school building. As per media reports, four bodies were recovered from the debris after a search operation involving police, SDRF, and local volunteers. The deceased were identified as Ashwani Sharma (24), Dwarka Nath (55), Virta Devi (26), and Om Raj (38). A search is still underway for a fifth missing person, Bidya Devi (55). Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha have expressed their condolences and assured all possible assistance to the affected families.
In a separate and equally tragic incident in the Reasi district, a landslide, caused by heavy rainfall, struck a house in the remote village of Badder in Mahore. All seven members of a single family were killed when their house, located on a hill slope, was buried under the debris. The victims, who were asleep at the time, were identified as Nazir Ahmad (38), his wife Wazira Begum (35), and their five young sons. Local residents, later joined by the police, managed to recover all seven bodies after a frantic search.
Following the tragic events, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives and directed officials to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of vulnerable areas. He urged residents to remain alert and follow safety advisories issued by the administration. In a post on social media, the Chief Minister’s Office stated that Abdullah has instructed district and disaster management authorities to remain on the ground to provide immediate relief and assistance to the affected families. The continuous heavy rains have prompted a state-wide alert as authorities brace for further inclement weather.