Srinagar, Aug 27: The bodies of two persons, including a 12-year-old boy, were recovered on Tuesday during ongoing rescue operations in the Rajgarh area of Ramban district. The recovery efforts continue for five other missing persons following a devastating cloudburst on Monday afternoon.
The cloudburst, which struck the Kumate, Dhraman, and Halla panchayats in Rajgarh tehsil, triggered flash floods in the Tanger and Dadi streams, sweeping away members of three families. Tehsildar Rajgarh, Major Singh, confirmed that seven people had been reported missing in the aftermath of the disaster.
“Despite challenging weather conditions, the rescue team successfully recovered the bodies of Yasir Ahmad (20) from Gadgram and Khalid Ahmed Parihar (12) from Suli-Kumate,” Singh told Rising Kashmir. He added that efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining five missing persons, including Ahmad’s mother, Naseema Begum (42), and sister, Shazia Banoo (6); Parihar’s mother, Gulshan Begum (42), and sister, Seerat Banoo (8); and Qazia Banoo (6) from Dungar Dandllah.
Rescue operations, conducted by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and volunteers, have been hampered by rising water levels in the rivulets, with rescuers facing nearly three-hour treks to reach the affected villages.
The Deputy Commissioner of Ramban acknowledged the tragedy, noting that operations had been temporarily halted due to heavy rainfall and flash floods but would resume as weather permits.
“District Administration expresses sympathy with affected families & all possible support shall be provided as per law,” he said.
The rescue team, comprising personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and volunteers, faces significant challenges due to continuous rainfall.
The continuous rainfall has not only claimed lives but also caused significant structural damage, including to two government schools in Gadgram and Sonsua. Additionally, three parked private vehicles were swept away by the flash floods.
Meanwhile, in the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded across several districts, with Jammu receiving 64.2 mm, Kathua 65.2 mm, Udhampur 64.8 mm, and Samba 53 mm. According to the Meteorological Department, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected at many locations in J&K from August 27 to 30, particularly late at night and early morning. The department also warned of potential flash floods, landslides, and mudslides in vulnerable areas.
The forecast for August 31 to September 1 includes brief spells of rain and thunderstorms at isolated places, while generally cloudy skies with the possibility of rain and thundershowers are expected from September 2 to 3. The intensity of showers is likely to vary, with the potential for heavy rain at isolated locations in Jammu division.
