Ramban: Four people, including two brothers, were killed in a cloudburst that triggered flash floods in a remote village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, officials said on Saturday. Two houses, a school and a cowshed were damaged in the incident.
The cloudburst occurred around 11.30 pm on Friday in Rajgarh, about 25 km from the district headquarters. “The bodies of four persons were recovered from under the debris after a massive search by local volunteers, police and SDRF rescue teams,” Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aijaz Khan said. A search is underway for one more missing person.
The deceased were identified as Ashwani Sharma (24), his brother Dwarka Nath (55), their niece Virta Devi (26) and guest Om Raj (38), a resident of Bansra in Rajgarh. Rescuers are still looking for Sharma’s sister-in-law Bidya Devi (55).
Ajay Kumar, a local resident, said the cloudburst struck near the primary school in the hilly area, creating a fast-flowing stream from Drubla-Gudgram village that swept away two houses, a cowshed and the school building.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the tragedy and assured all possible assistance to the affected families.
