Three killed, over 100 rescued as heavy rain wreaks havoc in J&K’s Ramban

Flash flood in Jammu & Kashmir's Ramban district prompts rescue of over 100 people, damages homes & disrupts traffic.

Three people were killed and more than 100 rescued after heavy rain triggered flash floods at different places in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district early on Sunday (April 20, 2025), officials said.

The incessant rain also triggered landslides and mudslides at nearly a dozen places between Nashri and Banihal along the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, prompting traffic to be suspended, they said.

The officials said a cloudburst struck the Seri Bagna village of Ramban, resulting in the deaths of three persons, including brothers Aqib Ahmad and Mohd Saqib.

The rescue operation in the village was continuing when the last reports were received, they said.

With the latest fatalities, five people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the Jammu region in two days. Two people, including a woman, were killed and another woman injured when they were struck by lightning in the Arnas area of Reasi district late on Saturday.

The officials said about 40 residential houses were damaged after a flash flood hit Dharam Kund village. Ten houses were fully damaged while the rest suffered partial damage.

More than 100 trapped villagers were rescued by police personnel who rushed to the spot despite the continuous downpour and cloudbursts, they said and added several vehicles were swept away in the flood caused by a stream overflowing.