Srinagar – A devastating cloudburst struck Seri Bagna village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, claiming at least three lives, according to officials. Rescue teams are currently conducting operations to locate survivors in the area.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that this incident is part of a series of recent rain-related disasters in the Jammu region, which have left five people dead in the last two days. On Saturday night, two more people, including a woman, lost their lives and another person was injured after lightning struck the Arnas area in Reasi district.
Heavy rainfall has caused flash floods in Dharam Kund village, where over 40 houses have been damaged—10 of them completely destroyed. Despite persistent rain and repeated cloudbursts, police teams successfully rescued more than 100 residents. Several vehicles were also swept away by overflowing streams, contributing to the widespread destruction.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised the quick response of the district administration led by Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary. “There were landslides and strong winds in Ramban. The administration acted quickly and saved lives,” Singh said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Around the area, there has been significant destruction due to rain, cloudbursts, landslides, and even hailstorms,” a district official told PTI. “We are closely monitoring the situation. Right now, our priority is to protect lives, and the assessment of losses will follow.”
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, has been closed due to landslides and mudslides along the Nashri-Banihal stretch. Falling rocks and washed-away road sections, including near Panthiyal, have rendered the highway impassable, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded.
Authorities confirmed that all those stranded have been safely relocated. The traffic department has urged the public to avoid traveling on the highway until clearance work is complete and conditions improve.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called an emergency meeting to assess the situation. Officials remain on high alert, warning of continued rainfall and unstable terrain in the coming days.
