Dharamkund cloudburst, flash-floods victims continue to live in distress

Ramban, Nov 13: Seven months after the devastating cloudburst and flash floods struck the Dharamkund area of Ramban district, dozens of affected families continue to live in uncertainty and distress, awaiting the compensation and permanent rehabilitation promised by the government.

Despite repeated assurances, the victims allege that they are still living in temporary shelters under dire conditions, with no concrete steps taken toward their resettlement.

The cloudburst that occurred in the early hours of April 20, 2025, wreaked havoc on the mountainous region.

Torrential rains triggered flash floods that damaged 37 residential houses, washing away belongings and rendering several families homeless. In the aftermath, the local administration, with assistance of Police, SDRF, temporarily shifted the affected people to the tin sheds of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), in Dharmund.

Promises unfulfilled

According to the victims, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had visited the affected area on April 26, 2025, assuring each affected family five marlas of land and financial compensation for rebuilding their homes. They said the CM directed the district administration to identify an alternate site and provide five marlas of land to affected families.

However, months later, those assurances remain unfulfilled.

“We are suffering due to multiple hardships,” said Rehana Begum.

“The temporary accommodation provided is not sufficient. We need permanent rehabilitation and complete compensation,” said Shabir Ahmed, a resident of Dharamkund.

“When the Chief Minister came here, he promised land and relief to all affected families. But even after several months, nothing concrete has been done. Families with six or seven members are forced to live in a single tin room,” he added.

While some families have received partial financial assistance under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, many others have reportedly been left out.

The victims allege that the district administration has failed to fairly distribute the relief or expedite the process of land allotment.

Living in Fear and Uncertainty

At present, dozens of families continue to live in makeshift shelters, provided temporarily by NHPC, which were originally meant to house them for only one month. With the harsh winter approaching, the displaced families fear that their situation will deteriorate further.

“We were told that these tin sheds were a temporary arrangement for one month. Now, seven months have passed, and we are still here. NHPC officials are even pressuring us to vacate the quarters. We have nowhere else to go,” said Tej Ram, another victim.

The affected area has since been declared a “Red zone” by the authorities, preventing residents from rebuilding their houses at the original site. This decision, though intended for safety reasons, has further complicated the victims’ rehabilitation process as they await new land allotments for resettlement.

Allegations against NHPC

Some residents have also accused NHPC of negligence, claiming that lapses in the corporation’s project work contributed to the scale of the disaster. Locals pointed out that an FIR was registered against NHPC in 2014 in connection with a previous incident of flooding in the area, but no substantial action was taken.

“This disaster didn’t happen for the first time. It’s due to negligence by NHPC. Even an FIR was registered against them years ago, but nothing came out of it,” said Pritam Singh and Asgar Ali, the affected villagers.

A Night of Horror

Recalling the morning of the tragedy, a group of residents shared harrowing experiences.

“Around 5 am, the cloudburst struck suddenly. Within minutes, the floodwaters entered our homes. We barely managed to escape with our lives, wearing only the clothes we had on. Everything else, our belongings, livestock, documents was washed away or buried under boulders,” said a local resident Asgar Ali Bohra while pointing toward the debris that still marks the area.

Victims Appeal for Urgent Action                                              

As winter sets in, the victims have once again appealed to the government and district administration to fulfill their commitments and ensure proper rehabilitation. They have demanded that the promised land and compensation be provided without further delay so that they can rebuild their homes and lives with dignity.

“We have lost everything: our homes, our land, and our peace. All we ask for is justice and a chance to live with dignity again,” said a tearful resident Sewa Singh.

The victims’ prolonged wait highlights the persistent gaps in disaster response and rehabilitation mechanisms in hilly regions like Ramban, where natural calamities continue to displace families year after year.

Until the promises made are turned into tangible action, the displaced families of Dharamkund remain trapped between bureaucratic apathy and the unforgiving mountain winter.