J&K Landslides, Cloudburst Kill 11

The house, located on a steep slope, was buried under debris from the collapsed hillside. Rescue teams, including police, SDRF, and local administration, recovered all seven bodies after prompt operations, as confirmed by Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar.

The district administration urged residents in hilly, landslide-prone areas to stay vigilant and avoid vulnerable structures during heavy rainfall.

In a separate incident, a cloudburst with heavy rainfall hit Gadgram, Rajgarh tehsil, in neighboring Ramban district, killing four people and leaving, at least, one person missing. Rescue efforts continue to locate the missing individuals, with four bodies already recovered, according to officials.

The sudden cloudburst triggered flash floods, damaging property and disrupting normal life in the area.

Senior administrative officials, including Deputy Commissioner Ramban Alyas Khan, are overseeing rescue and relief operations. The administration is on high alert, providing immediate assistance to affected families, with efforts focused on relief and recovery.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, in an ‘X’ post, said he contacted DC Ramban, Mr. Khan, about the cloudburst in Rajgarh. He said that rescue efforts are underway, with full support being provided, and that he is in constant communication with the district administration.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed condolences for the deaths in an ‘X’ post from his office, stating his deep sorrow and directing the administration to conduct immediate rescue and relief operations.

These incidents follow a series of devastating natural disasters in the region. On August 14, a cloudburst-induced flash flood in Chositi village in eastern Kishtwar district, resulted in 67 deaths, 300 injuries, and approximately 200 people missing.

Earlier this week, relentless heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flash floods and landslides across J&K, claiming over 45 lives and causing widespread destruction.A tragic landslide on August 26 struck the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in Reasi district, killing 34 Hindu pilgrims from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

The landslide, triggered by heavy downpours, sent boulders and debris cascading down the Trikuta Hills, halting the pilgrimage to the revered cave-shrine.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) suspended the Yatra for the fourth consecutive day on Friday due to persistent heavy rainfall and unsafe conditions. The Board clarified that the cloudburst was unforeseeable, with weather conditions initially favourable and pilgrim registrations suspended promptly upon receiving moderate rain forecasts.

Financial assistance of ₹ 9 lakh per deceased pilgrim has been announced, with additional aid of ₹ 4 lakh from the J&K Disaster Department and ₹ 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Fund.

The J&K Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat has formed a three-member committee, headed by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Jal Shakti Department, to investigate the Vaishno Devi landslide. The committee, including the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, will examine the causes, assess rescue and relief measures, and recommend preventive measures. The committee is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

Heavy rainfall severed key highways, including Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Pathankot, with rivers like the Tawi, Chenab, and Jhelum breaching danger levels.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44) has been closed for five consecutive days due to heavy rainfall and mudslides at several locations, including a significant mudslide at Samruli.

The officials here said on Saturday that the highway is blocked on both sides, halting all traffic movement today (Saturday). They added that efforts to clear the blockages are ongoing, but persistent mudslides and challenging weather conditions are hindering restoration work.

Earlier during the week, Indian Railways canceled 58 trains and rerouted 64 others due to damaged tracks and bridges. On Thursday, two special trains were operated to evacuate stranded passengers, particularly pilgrims, from Jammu Tawi to New Delhi and Varanasi. Northern Railways, in collaboration with NGOs, provided food and lodging at affected stations.

The officials said that under the oversight of Divisional Commissioner Jammu Mr. Kumar, railway authorities have launched two special train services from Jammu Tawi on Saturday to accommodate passenger needs.

The floods have ravaged Jammu, Doda, Ramban, and Reasi, destroying homes, roads, bridges, and infrastructure. Schools in Jammu Division remain closed until August 30 due to waterlogging and landslide risks, while Kashmir Valley schools reopened on Friday after a three-day closure. The exact death toll in the Valley is still being verified.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Jammu on August 31 and September 1 to assess the flood-affected areas. He will conduct an aerial survey, meet with senior officials, and review relief and rehabilitation efforts to ensure swift assistance and long-term flood mitigation strategies.

Shah has been in regular contact with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Mr. Abdullah since the onset of the adverse weather. Sinha has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah on the situation, directing officials to maintain maximum readiness for emergency response.

The Central government and J&K administration are working in coordination to support the affected population and restore normalcy in the region, officials here said.