Jammu: Incessant heavy rains wreaked havoc across Jammu province on Saturday, leaving 12 people dead in Ramban and Reasi districts, including seven members of one family, as landslides and a cloudburst devastated the region.

Officials said a tragic incident unfolded in Mahore area of Reasi district, where a couple and their five young sons were buried alive when a massive landslide struck their home, built precariously on a hillside. The deceased were identified as Nazir Ahmed (42), his wife Wazira Begum (35), and their children – Bilal Ahmed (13), Mohammad Mustafa (11), Mohammad Adil (8), Mohammad Mubarak (6), and Mohammad Wasim (5). Despite frantic rescue efforts by locals and police, only bodies could be recovered.

In Ramban district’s Rajgarh village, a cloudburst around 12:30 am claimed five lives, including a mother and son. The victims were named as Bidya Devi, Om Raj, Dwarka Nath, Ashwani Sharma, and his mother Virta Devi. The sudden deluge also destroyed a school building and two houses. Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mohammad Illiyas Khan, rushed to the site to oversee rescue and relief measures, while several affected families were shifted to safer areas.

The devastation comes as Jammu province continues to reel under incessant rainfall since mid-August. Official figures show nearly 130 deaths across the region in the past two weeks due to landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts.

On August 14, at least 65 people, mostly Machail Mata pilgrims, were killed and nearly 100 injured when a cloudburst struck Chishoti village in Kishtwar district. Nine days later, another cloudburst near Adh Kunwari on the Vaishno Devi route claimed 34 lives, sparking questions about whether pilgrimage yatras were permitted despite clear warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) about inclement weather and risks of landslides and flash floods.

Both Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over Saturday’s loss of lives. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to arrive in Jammu on Sunday for a two-day visit to personally review the relief and rescue operations.