Storms cut off Kashmir, but Ramban’s humanity reconnected hearts

When relentless rains and massive landslides battered the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Sunday night, cutting off Kashmir from the rest of the country, hundreds of vehicles were left stranded and lives thrown into chaos. But amidst the fury of nature, a wave of compassion swept through Ramban district, where locals turned their homes into safe havens for over 400 distressed travellers.
The worst of the calamity struck between Nashri and Banihal, with heavy landslides and shooting stones at key stretches like Mehar, Cafeteria Morh, and Seri bringing traffic to a complete standstill. Travellers—many of them families with women, children, and the elderly—were left without food, shelter, or medical aid, braving the cold and uncertainty through the night. But what unfolded next was nothing short of remarkable.
From Chanderkote to Maitra, Seri to Ramban town, residents stepped up. Blankets were offered, warm meals prepared, and homes transformed into shelters. Mosques, community halls, even unfinished buildings became safe spaces for those stranded.
“I was on my way to Srinagar with my family when we got stuck. My kids were shivering and there was no food,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a traveller from Baramulla. “Then a local man knocked on our window and invited us into his home. It was unbelievable.”
Sabeek Rashid, a student from Anantnag, was equally moved. “I was stuck in a car for hours and didn’t even know where we were. But these people treated us like family—gave us food, tea, even their beds. I’ll never forget this kindness.”
Community kitchens (langars) were quickly set up, and volunteers navigated the damaged roads offering hot drinks and essentials to those still stranded.
“I don’t know their names, but they were cold and hungry,” said Nasir Qazi, a schoolteacher from Ramban who hosted 12 travellers. “It wasn’t a choice. It was our responsibility.”
“I don’t know their names, but they were cold and hungry,” said Nasir Qazi, a schoolteacher from Ramban who hosted 12 travellers. “It wasn’t a choice. It was our responsibility.”
Recognising the gravity of the crisis, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Baseer ul Haq, activated emergency response protocols.
“We’ve set up free langars at Chanderkote and Ramban and arranged shelter in government buildings. Around 100 passengers have been accommodated in a local school. Our teams are working round-the-clock to provide food and medical aid,” he said.
He praised the outpouring of public support, noting, “The people of Ramban have built a culture of compassion. In every crisis, they rise with unmatched generosity.”
Local elder Karamat Ullah perhaps captured the spirit best:
“These people may be strangers, but they are guests in our land. And in our culture, a guest is a blessing.”
Meanwhile, restoration work on the highway continues. Teams from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and local authorities are working tirelessly to clear debris and reopen the route. Officials estimate the road will remain closed for at least another one to two days, depending on weather conditions.
What could have been a night of fear and despair transformed into a powerful story of empathy—proof that, even in the darkest storms, it is humanity that shines the brightest.