2 teachers die in Ramban flash flood
Jammu: Incessant rains across Jammu and Kashmir have triggered widespread disruptions, forcing the suspension of the Amarnath Yatra and claiming lives in flash floods.
On Wednesday, authorities announced the suspension of the annual Amarnath Yatra from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes due to heavy rainfall in the region. The pilgrimage will also remain halted from Jammu on Thursday as a precautionary measure. The Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) confirmed that no pilgrim movement was allowed from the base camps at Baltal and Nunwan (Chandanwari) due to unsafe track conditions.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said persistent rain since early morning had made the yatra routes unsafe. His counterpart in Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, also confirmed that no convoys would be allowed to proceed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 31. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, prioritizing the safety of pilgrims amid worsening weather.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck in Ramban district when two government school teachers lost their lives in a flash flood. Jagdev Singh (37) and Sanjay Kumar (39), both residents of Ghordi village in Udhampur, were swept away by a swollen mountain stream near Nathatop on Tuesday evening. The duo had attended a training course at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) in Kud and were returning home when the incident occurred. Their bodies were recovered on Wednesday, nearly 300 meters downstream from the spot where their motorcycle was last seen.
The spell of extreme weather has not only disrupted religious pilgrimage but also exposed the vulnerability of remote and hilly roads across the region, prompting authorities to issue warnings and urge people to avoid unnecessary travel.
