At least three people were killed in a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district early Sunday morning as the region continued to receive heavy rains for the past few days. Over 100 people were also rescued after heavy rains triggered a flash flood in a village in Ramban district early on Sunday.
Incessant rains have wreaked havoc in the union territory, causing landslides, flash floods, and destruction of several properties in Ramban. Traffic was also suspended at nearly a dozen places between Nashri and Banihal along the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, news agency PTI reported.
As many as 40 residential houses were damaged after the flash flood hit Dharam Kund village in Ramban. More than 100 trapped villagers were rescued by police personnel who rushed to the spot despite the continuous downpour and cloudbursts. Several vehicles were swept away in the flood due to an overflowing stream.
A rescue operation was launched last night after ten houses were fully damaged in the flash floods in Ramban. Water from a nallah entered into a village in Dharamkund, damaging ten houses completely and partially affecting 25-30 others. However, Dharamkund police managed to safely rescue nearly 100 trapped people.
Landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones at several places between Nashri and Banihal affected vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, causing inconvenience to travellers as traffic was stopped from both sides, a traffic department spokesperson told PTI.
He further said the commuters were advised not to travel on the arterial road till the weather improved and roads were cleared as the rain continued along the highway.