A sudden cloudburst late on April 19 triggered devastating flash floods in Bagna village, Ramban district, tragically claiming the lives of two young brothers—14-year-old Muhammad Aquib Ahmed and 12-year-old Muhammad Saqib Ahmed—and 75-year-old Mani Ram. Their homes collapsed under the force of the waters.
Heavy rain, hail, and lightning unleashed multiple landslides between Nashri and Banihal, crippling the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and severing Kashmir’s link with the rest of India. Panthial suffered major road damage, with eyewitnesses reporting vehicles plunging down after the road caved in. Near Maroog, trucks loaded with livestock were buried under rubble.
Teams from SDRF, NDRF, Army, and local volunteers are racing against time to rescue and restore, though bad weather hampers efforts. Over 100 people were evacuated from Dharamkund. Ramban town’s markets and homes, especially Bowli Bazar, were hit hard. Power outages and poor mobile connectivity worsened the crisis.
Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary and DC Baseer-ul-Haq are on ground, monitoring relief efforts. All educational institutions remain closed on April 21.
The Army provided stranded travelers with food, water, and medical aid on NH-44. Traffic authorities advise against travel till roads are cleared. Meanwhile, NH-244 is open for movement, excluding the Padder route.
Authorities urge citizens to remain indoors, avoid landslide-prone zones, and follow only official updates to stay safe.
