SRINAGAR: A violent cloudburst followed by torrential downpours wreaked havoc in Bagna village of Ramban district during the night between April 19 and 20, claiming the lives of three individuals, including two young brothers. The deluge triggered flash floods and widespread destruction across multiple locations, severely impacting life and connectivity in the region.
Unrelenting rainfall accompanied by hail and thunderstorm activity resulted in a series of landslides and mudflows across over a dozen stretches of the JammuโSrinagar National Highway, especially between Nashri and Banihal. The damage led to a complete disruption of traffic on this vital arterial road, effectively cutting the Kashmir Valley off from the rest of the country.
The chain of catastrophic events began around 2 am and continued until 7 am, leaving behind uprooted roads, damaged homes, and blocked highways in Ramban town, Seri, and other nearby areas. Key agricultural zones also suffered heavily, with fruit orchards and cultivated fields being extensively damaged.
One of the most severely affected locations was near Panthial, where a section of the highway was torn apart. Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes of vehicles sliding down the collapsing road. Several goods carriers were trapped in landslides near Maroog, where a few trucks reportedly transporting livestock were buried under massive piles of debris.
Rescue teams from the SDRF and NDRF were deployed to manage relief operations, but erratic weather continued to hamper their progress. Three massive landslides struck within a 100-meter stretch, disrupting normal life at Seri, Kela Morh, Mehar Cafeteria, and the Shan Palace area. At Bowli Bazar, a local stream overflowed, damaging numerous shops and homes while burying vehicles under layers of sludge and rock.
The power grid across the district collapsed, plunging vast areas into darkness throughout the day. Telecommunication services were also severely disrupted, with only a few mobile networks operating in limited areas.
SPO Basheer Ahmed, who led the Quick Response Team to Bagna, confirmed that 14-year-old Muhammad Aquib Ahmed and his 12-year-old brother Muhammad Saqib Ahmed, sons of Muhammad Hanief, died when their house collapsed in the floodwaters. Their bodies were retrieved by local villagers. In another tragic incident, 75-year-old Mani Ram lost his life when his residence gave way under the pressure of the gushing waters.
In a quick response, the district administration safely evacuated more than 100 individuals from Dharam Kund in the Gool subdivision. Several homes there also sustained structural damages due to the extreme weather. According to SDRF officials, while no fatalities were reported in Ramsoo of Banihal sub-division, horticultural losses were considerable and many roads were left damaged.
Major landslides continued to affect vulnerable sections of NH-44, with officials particularly concerned about Seri, Cafeteria Morh, and Kela Morh. Rescue and monitoring teams remained stationed at Panthial through the day.
Later in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary reached Ramban to assess the aftermath. He visited affected zones including Shan Palace and Bowli Mohalla. Accompanied by National Conference legislators Sajjad Shaheen and Arjun Singh Raju, he coordinated with the Chief Minister who instructed immediate action to evaluate the damage and support the victims.
In view of the deteriorating weather and rising water levels, Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary announced the closure of all educational institutions across the district on April 21. โAll government and private schools, colleges, and technical institutions will remain shut. Stay home, stay safe,โ he posted on social media platform โXโ.
The Deputy Commissioner remained on the ground throughout the day, overseeing ongoing rescue operations with SSP Kulbir Singh and other key officials. He reaffirmed that saving lives and restoring essential services was the administrationโs foremost priority. Teams from Police, SDRF, local QRTs, Army units, and civil departments, as well as volunteers from NGOs, were actively engaged in relief and repair work.
Expressing condolences to the families of those who perished, the DC emphasized the administrationโs unwavering efforts in executing urgent government orders, ensuring rapid deployment of resources. He commended the public for following safety advisories and refraining from venturing into high-risk areas such as landslide zones and overflowing streams.
The Deputy Commissioner further urged the public to avoid unverified information and trust only official updates to prevent panic and misinformation.
In a commendable show of commitment, the Indian Army extended humanitarian aid to stranded travelers along NH-44. With hundreds of passengersโwomen, children, and elderly includedโmarooned due to blocked roads, Army personnel distributed food, water, and provided medical support. They also helped clear smaller obstructions and worked closely with civil authorities to hasten traffic restoration.
The Jammu & Kashmir Traffic Police issued an advisory asking commuters to avoid traveling along affected routes until weather conditions improve and roads are cleared. โRestoration is in progress but weather continues to be an obstacle. Updates will be shared once roads are safe for use,โ the advisory stated.
Meanwhile, officials confirmed that NH-244, connecting Kishtwar to the Kashmir Valley, remained open. โAll main roads in Kishtwar are functional, except the Padder route. Restoration was completed by 11 am to ensure smooth traffic up to Chingam,โ they added.
