At least three people were killed after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Friday. Several houses were damaged in the incident, and at least five people have been reported missing. Ramban is located about 136 km from Srinagar.

Over the past few days, heavy rainfall has lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, disrupting normal life and damaging road connectivity. Key routes, including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), suffered major damage, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma told ANI that several roads had been washed away or blocked due to continuous rains. “The NH-44 is closed. It might open this evening or by tomorrow morning. In Poonch, there was significant damage due to rainfall,” he said. Sharma added that restoration efforts were underway on Mughal Road to ensure the movement of essential commodities.

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Authorities have sounded a yellow alert for Friday in Poonch, Reasi, Rajouri, Kishtwar, and Udhampur districts, warning of thunderstorms and lightning. An orange alert has also been issued for Saturday and Sunday in Poonch, Kishtwar, Jammu, Ramban, and Udhampur, signaling the likelihood of heavier downpours.

Seven killed in Reasi landslide

Seven members of a family, including five children, lost their lives after a massive landslide buried their house in a remote village of Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday morning.

Officials said the victims—Nazir Ahmad, his wife, and their five young sons—had gone missing after the incident. Their bodies were recovered nearly four hours later during an intensive rescue operation.

The landslide, caused by heavy rainfall, struck Badder village in Mahore, located about 130 kilometres north of Jammu.

In view of the severe weather, the Jammu administration has ordered the closure of all government and private schools across the division till August 30. Officials said the decision was taken after alarming reports from several districts indicated worsening conditions. Schools have been advised to explore the possibility of online classes for students of Classes 9 to 12 where infrastructure and internet facilities allow.

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On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the flood situation and expressed concern over the widespread damage caused by continuous rainfall. He said the Union Territory had narrowly escaped a major crisis and warned that more rain could have led to devastation similar to the 2014 floods.