A week of relentless rain has pummelled Jammu and Kashmir, cutting off highways, marooning villages and leaving hundreds stranded, as fresh landslides and flash floods claimed at least 11 lives on Friday, officials confirmed.
In Reasi district, seven people were killed after landslides struck the remote Mahore area. Rescue teams have so far recovered five bodies from the debris, while several others remain feared trapped. Search and rescue efforts are still under way.
In Ramban, four people died and four others went missing after a cloudburst in the higher reaches of Rajgarh unleashed sudden flash floods. The gushing waters swept away houses, damaged multiple structures and left several completely washed off, according to officials. Relief and rescue operations are continuing.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the incident and said authorities were providing every possible assistance to those affected.
“Just now spoke to DC Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan. Cloudburst in Rajgarh area resulting in the unfortunate casualty of four persons. The fifth one is missing and the search is going on. Meanwhile, there is no injured. Rescue operation is on. Every possible assistance being provided. I am in constant touch,” Singh said in a post on X.
Ramban is located around 136 kilometres from Srinagar.
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The region has been lashed by continuous rainfall for a week, with rivers spilling over and floodwaters flattening everything in their path. Landslides have sent boulders, trees and rocks crashing down the slopes, worsening the devastation.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, a 270-kilometre lifeline and the only all-weather road linking the Valley with the rest of the country, has remained closed for the fifth consecutive day. Landslides between Jakheni and Chenani in Udhampur district earlier this week stranded more than 2,000 vehicles.
Nine inter-district roads across Jammu region are also blocked by landslides and erosion. Several villages in Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur remain cut off following days of relentless downpour.
Earlier this week, 41 people were killed and several others went missing after a landslide struck near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. The path to the shrine on Trikuta hill was left in ruins as large portions of the mountainside crumbled away, forcing suspension of the yatra.
The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Friday in Poonch, Reasi, Rajouri, Kishtwar and Udhampur, warning of thunderstorms and lightning. For Saturday and Sunday, the warning has been upgraded to an orange alert for Poonch, Kishtwar, Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur, indicating the likelihood of heavier rain.
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