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WEATHER FURY

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 4/21/2025 11:18:31 AM

Landslide, Cloudburst hit Ramban NH Blocked, Property Damaged

RAMBAN, APR 20 A severe cloudburst accompanied by relentless rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides across Ramban district on Sunday. The Jammu- Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), a crucial arterial route, has been rendered impassable due to multiple landslides and mudslides, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. As per the reports, three people have reportedly died in the cloudburst, while loss of property for some families due to hailstorm and flash floods. Officials here on Sunday said that the National Highway was blocked for vehicular traffic at Panthyal, Seri, and other areas of Ramban district, following heavy rainfall that triggered landslides, flash floods at several places in Ramban District. “Moreover, three persons are killed as a cloud burst wreaks havoc in the remote Dharamkund area of the district,” they said. “Because of constant landslides amid heavy rains, a complete rescue operation cannot be launched by the Quick Response Teams (QRT) and Police,” they said. “Entire districts have been affected due to the flash flood, and there are also reports of damage to private and public properties, and vehicles have been struck in the blocked roads in the town due to the flash flood,” said an official. Army and civil administration launched a joint action to provide help to people. “Cloudburst & heavy rain triggered landslides in Ramban, leaving NH-44 blocked with several vehicles stranded. IndianArmy troops are assisting stranded passengers with humanitarian relief, in close coordination with civil administration”. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who is a Member of Parliament from Kathua-Udhampur, posted on X, “There was a heavy hailstorm, multiple landslides, and fast winds throughout the night in the Ramban region, including the areas surrounding the Ramban town.” “The National Highway stands blocked, and unfortunately, there have been 3 casualties and loss of property for a couple of families. I am in constant touch with Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary,” Dr Singh posted. In a post, he said that the district administration deserves appreciation for timely and prompt action, which helped save several precious lives. “Every kind of relief, both financial and otherwise, is being provided. The DC has been informed that, if need be, whatever more is required can be provided from the MP’s personal resources as well. The request is not to panic. We shall all, together, overcome this natural calamity,” Dr Singh posted. As per reports by news agencies, SSP Traffic National Highway (Ramban), Raja Adil Hamid Ganaie, that some light motor vehicles were damaged after these were hit by landslides, but all the stranded passengers have escaped unharmed. He said that the highway is blocked at five locations including Panthyal, Seri and Kishtwari Pathar due to landslides and shooting stones and once the rains stop, the restoration work will be taken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)’s BEACON project.