Ramban, Apr 20: Three people were killed after a cloudburst struck the Dharamkund area near the Chenab Bridge on Sunday morning, triggering flash floods and a landslide that buried a stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway under debris.
Officials said the cloudburst caused a sudden surge in a local nallah, which swept through a village, killing two residents and leaving one unaccounted for.
“Over 90 people were rescued during the operation, while ten houses were completely destroyed and up to 30 others sustained partial damage,” an official said.
The Chenab Bridge, located near the affected zone, was inaugurated in December 2023 as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project. Designed to connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, it stands as the world’s highest railway bridge and a key infrastructure link in the region.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall also triggered a landslide on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, stranding hundreds of vehicles.
“The highway is buried under rocks, mud, and debris,” an official said.
Visuals from the site showed extensive damage—vehicles submerged in sludge, roofs torn off, and roadways completely blocked.
Authorities have advised commuters to avoid unnecessary travel and to monitor official updates.
