Surinder Singh
Jammu, Aug 30:
At least 11 people, including five children, were killed in a flash flood and a landslide in two districts of Jammu and Kashmir early Saturday as nature’s fury struck the mountainous areas of the region, which is yet to come out of similar tragedies in recent days.
During the intervening night of August 29-30, a landslide following heavy rains hit a far-flung Bhaddar village of Mahore in Reasi district, flattening a residential house and killing a couple and their five children.
The deceased were identified as Nazir Ahmed Rahi (38), his wife Wazara Bano, and their five sons, Bilal Ahmed (12), Muhammad Mustafa (10), Muhammad Adil (8), Muhammad Mubarak (6) and Muhammad Waseem (4).
In another incident in Ramban district early Saturday morning, a cloudburst struck the Rajgarh area, killing at least four people. One person is still missing, with the police, administration and SDRF on the job to trace him. District administration officials said heavy rains and cloudburst triggered flash floods in the area, leading to the tragedy.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and others have expressed grief over the incidents.
In a post on X, LG wrote, “Anguished by the cloudburst & rain-triggered landslides in Reasi & Ramban. Condolences to the bereaved families. Spoke to Senior Officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue and relief operations are underway. All possible assistance is being provided to the affected.”
CM Abdullah appealed to people to remain alert, avoid vulnerable areas, and strictly adhere to safety advisories. He directed the district administration and disaster management authorities to remain on the ground, ensure round-the-clock monitoring, carry out timely evacuation of residents from risk-prone zones, and provide immediate relief and all possible assistance to the affected families.
A cloudburst can be termed as an intensely localised weather event wherein a huge amount of rain falls in an area in a short duration. More often, it is 100 mm of precipitation within an hour. Landslides usually happen when heavy rainfall saturates the soil
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on a slope, leading to vast swathes of land and whatever is on it, including rocks and trees, sliding down, destroying everything in its path.
The latest incidents come days after a major tragedy near the Vaishno Devi shrine in the Katra area of Reasi, where at least 35 devotees lost their lives and dozens were injured after a landslide struck the area on August 26. On the same day, four people died in a flash flood in Doda, another district in J&K. On August 14, a cloudburst struck Chisoti village en route to the Machail Mata temple, leaving over 60 dead, several missing, and hundreds injured.
Jammu and Kashmir and several other northern states are witnessing nature’s fury as torrential rains have led to flash floods and landslides, which have led to an unprecedented loss of life and property.
Questions have been asked to J&K L-G Sinha as the National Conference-led government has put the blame on him for permitting the pilgrimages despite severe weather warnings.
Amid this, Sinha has ordered the constitution of a three-member committee to investigate the causes of the landslide that occurred at Vaishno Devi shrine. Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Jal Shakti, Jammu and Kashmir, will head the committee, which includes the Divisional Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, according to an official order.
The committee has been tasked to conduct a detailed investigation and submit its report within two weeks to LG Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), the order said.
It stated that the Committee shall examine in detail the causes and reasons behind the incident and point out any lapses, assess responses in the form of rescue and relief measures undertaken and suggest appropriate SOPs and measures for preventing recurrence of such incidents in future.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to senior officials and took stock of the situation and rescue and relief operations following the cloudburst and rain-triggered landslides in Reasi and Ramban Districts.
The Lieutenant Governor has extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones in the tragic incidents. He has directed the officials for extending all possible assistance to the affected families.
In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor said:
“Anguished by the cloudburst and rain-triggered landslides in Reasi and Ramban. Condolences to the bereaved families. Spoke to Senior Officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue and relief operations are underway. All possible assistance is being provided to the affected.”
Meanwhile Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in Reasi and Ramban districts due to natural calamities in which several precious lives have been lost.
The Minister said that it is heart wrenching that several precious lives have been lost in cloudburst incident in Ramban and landslide incident in Reasi district. She added that these tragedies have caused unbearable sufferings to the affected families and my heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families and their relatives.
The Minister further said that the district administrations, particularly health department and disaster management authorities, in both districts have been mobilised to provide immediate relief to the affected families.
Minister Sakeena further appealed the general public that in view of inclement weather advisories people should remain cautious and alert, avoid landslide prone areas and strictly adhere to safety advisories for their well being.
Meanwhile, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, has expressed deep grief and anguish over the tragic loss of lives in Ramban and Reasi districts due to the recent natural calamities.
In his condolence message, the Minister said that the cloudburst in Ramban and landslide in Reasi have caused irreparable loss and immense suffering to the affected families. “It is deeply painful that many precious lives have been lost in these unfortunate incidents. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.
Sharma further said that the district administrations along with disaster management and health authorities have been directed to ensure all possible assistance, relief and rehabilitation measures for the affected families on priority.
Appealing to the people to remain alert in view of the adverse weather advisories, the Minister urged citizens to stay away from vulnerable and landslide-prone areas, and to strictly follow safety instructions issued by the administration for their own wellbeing.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday spoke to Ramban District Collector Mohammad Alyas Khan after a cloudburst and landslides in the Rajgarh area claimed four lives, with one person still missing.
He added that rescue operations are underway, and all possible assistance is being provided.
In a post on X, Singh wrote, “Just now spoke to DC Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan. A cloudburst in the Rajgarh area resulted 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.”
At least four people were killed and one was reported missing after a cloudburst hit the Rajgarh area of Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said.
A search and rescue operation has been launched to provide immediate relief to the victims.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ramban, Arun Gupta, said, “Four bodies have been recovered, while another one is missing. We are trying to trace them. The sudden cloudburst triggered flash floods in the Natna area, causing damage to a house and a school besides disrupting normal life in the area.”
He further said that efforts are being made to provide immediate relief to the families of the victims.
“Efforts are being made to provide immediate relief to the families of the victims, while search and rescue operations continue under the supervision of DC, SSP and ASP, who reached the spot early morning today,” the SSP Ramban said.
Ramban has been grappling with heavy rainfall and flash floods.
According to the IMD, isolated heavy rainfall is likely to continue over Jammu and Kashmir from August 30 to September 2, while light to moderate rainfall is predicted in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, and Uttarakhand during the next four days.
The Regional Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for Ramban, Rajouri, Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch, Kathua, and other districts, warning of very heavy rainfall for today. Similar alerts have been put in place for the upcoming days.
Earlier on Friday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) intensified its flood relief and rescue operations in Northern India with a primary focus on the severely affected Jammu and Punjab regions, the Ministry of Defence said.
Mi-17 and Chinook helicopters have conducted more than 55 sorties to extract stranded civilians, including personnel from the Indian Army and Border Security Force, from inundated areas in Dera Baba Nanak, Pathankot, and Akhnoor sectors.
Transport aircraft (C-130) have been deployed to facilitate the rapid movement of specialised NDRF teams into the affected zones, the ministry said. Further, it said that the “operations have enabled the rescue of 215 individuals and delivered 7,300 kgs of essential relief material in the affected areas in the past three days.”
