I have seen how news of disasters doesn’t just remain news; it becomes a wound in the hearts of people who live through it. When I first read about the tragedy in J&K’s Reasi and Ramban, where 11 precious lives were lost in a single night of fury, it didn’t feel like a distant headline. It felt like grief creeping into the homes of every family that has ever prayed for safety in the mountains.
At least 11 people, including seven from one family, died in separate incidents of cloudburst and landslide in Reasi and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Heavy rains have turned these hills into zones of fear, and for many, homes into graves. The latest incidents are just part of a grim fortnight in which the Union Territory has witnessed multiple cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods, leaving 130 people dead and over 140 injured since August 14.
A Family Buried Alive in Reasi
In the quiet village of Badder in Reasi district, a landslide turned into a nightmare that no one could imagine. Nazir Ahmad, his wife Wazira Begum, and their five little sons—Bilal, Mustafa, Adil, Mubarak, and Wasim—were all asleep when the hill above them crumbled. Their house was flattened in seconds, leaving no chance of survival.
I can only imagine the pain of locals who rushed to dig through the debris with bare hands before help arrived. They pulled out not survivors but lifeless bodies, an entire family erased by nature’s wrath. The story of Nazir’s family is one that will stay etched in the memories of Reasi for decades.
Ramban’s Night of Horror
While Reasi was mourning, Ramban district witnessed another tragedy. Around 11.30 pm, a cloudburst struck Rajgarh village, just 25 km from the district headquarters. Flash floods gushed down from the hilltop, sweeping away houses, a cowshed, and even the local school.
Four people—Ashwani Sharma, his brother Dwarka Nath, their niece Virta Devi, and a guest, Om Raj—were killed in the sudden deluge. Their bodies were recovered after hours of search operations by locals, police, and the SDRF. One more family member, Bidya Devi, remains missing, leaving rescuers still combing through the mud and rubble.
Pilgrimage on Hold, Life in Limbo
For the fifth consecutive day, the yatra to the sacred Mata Vaishno Devi shrine remains suspended. Just days earlier, 34 pilgrims lost their lives when a landslide struck the trekking route from Katra to the shrine. For many devotees, faith now walks hand in hand with fear.
Roads and bridges across Jammu have been washed away, trains disrupted, and key highways cut off. I have experienced how such closures not only paralyze travel but also leave communities stranded, isolated, and waiting anxiously for help.
Leaders React, Relief on Ground
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed officials to work round the clock, ensuring evacuation from vulnerable zones and constant monitoring. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh have expressed deep grief, promising all possible assistance.
Former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad too extended condolences, stressing immediate relief measures. On the ground, district officials like Ramban DC Mohammad Alyas Khan and SSP Arun Gupta personally supervised rescue efforts, while volunteers led by locals like Bashir Ahmad Magray showed extraordinary courage.
Rains Show No Mercy
The weather has shown little sign of relief. According to the meteorological department, Bhaderwah recorded the highest rainfall of 51.6 mm, followed by Katra, Kathua, and Ramban. Forecasts warn of more heavy showers, flash floods, and landslides in coming days. For people of Jammu and Kashmir, every drop of rain now carries fear, every rumble of thunder feels like a threat.
A Region in Mourning, Yet Resilient
Jammu and Kashmir has always been about resilience, about people holding onto hope even in the harshest winters or toughest storms. But this August has left scars that will take years to heal. Families destroyed, yatras halted, children buried in debris—these are not just statistics, they are stories of pain that remind us of how fragile life is before nature’s might.
I have felt that whenever disasters strike the hills, they do not just shake mountains, they shake hearts across India. What J&K needs now is not just sympathy but strong rehabilitation, better disaster preparedness, and the assurance that people will not be left alone in their darkest hours.
Disclaimer: This report is based on official updates and agency reports. While every effort has been made to provide accurate information, details may evolve as rescue and relief operations continue.
Also Read