3 killed, hundreds relocated, road and air travel disrupted after cloudburst wreaks havoc in J-K

The district administration, which had already sounded an alert in view of the adverse weather forecast by the Met Department, made announcements from temples and mosques alerting people about the situation.

The Emergency Control Centre already set up in the office of the Deputy Commissioner mobilised revenue and police teams to rescue people from low-lying areas across the tehsil to safer places. Nearly 500 people were moved to safer locations during the night-long operations.

However, three people were buried under the rubble of their house, which collapsed at Seri Champa village on the outskirts of Ramban town. Their bodies have been retrieved by the administration, the Deputy Commissioner said. Teams of officials were still working to help people in distress.

The weather has also led to the Jammu and Srinagar national highway being closed for vehicular traffic following blockades caused by landslides at various places in Ramban district. Disruptions in air travel to Srinagar have also been reported.

Several residential and commercial buildings were extensively damaged and scores of vehicles submerged in the muck caused by the cloudburst.

As it was still raining heavily, officials said that an assessment of the loss of property will be made after the weather improves.