Fifty tourists from Gujarat, stranded due to a landslide in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district, have been confirmed safe, according to statements by state and union officials on Monday. The landslide was triggered by a cloudburst and heavy rains in the early hours of Sunday, which led to widespread devastation and left the crucial Jammu-Srinagar national highway blocked for vehicular traffic.
Gujarat cabinet minister Rushikesh Patel said that the tourists, who were returning from Srinagar, are all safe and that the state government is maintaining constant communication with the local administration in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;
"50 Gujaratis trapped in a landslide in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarati tourists were returning from Srinagar. All the tourists are safe and the state government is making active efforts to bring them back," he stated.&nbsp;
&ldquo;No one was injured. The state government is in constant touch and making efforts to bring them back home,&rdquo; he added.
The office of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also confirmed the safety of the tourists. It reported that they are being provided with food and other essentials by the local administration. The tourists are from Gandhinagar and Banaskantha districts and were trapped along the highway, a vital road link between Kashmir and the rest of India.
&ldquo;Upon receiving information that tourists from Gandhinagar and Banaskantha in Gujarat were trapped in a landslide caused by a cloudburst in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, Minister of State for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghavi has instructed the Gujarat Police to take necessary action. Gujarat Police immediately contacted Jammu and Kashmir Police Control Room and Ramban SSP and got information about the tourists. All Gujarati tourists are safe and arrangements including food are being made for them. Gujarat Police is in constant touch with the Jammu and Kashmir administration, including the Central IB. The Gujarat government and police have immediately been in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure the safety of tourists from Gujarat,&rdquo; the Chief Minister&rsquo;s office posted on social media platform X.
According to the Ramban District Magistrate&rsquo;s office, the stranded bus has been moved to a safe location. A team from the district administration reached the bus and served food to the passengers. An attempt to move the bus via the Banihal route was scheduled for Monday afternoon, depending on weather conditions.
One of the stranded passengers, Ketan Vansola from Banaskantha, appeared in a video statement thanking the administration and confirming the safety of all passengers.
Reacting to the situation, Congress leader and Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani provided an update on the status of residents from Banaskantha district. &ldquo;Regarding the people from the Vankar community and other communities of Banaskantha district who are currently stranded in Jammu &amp; Kashmir, I just spoke with the IAS officer there. He informed me that they have received the message since evening that these people are in distress. There is no need for major concern. I&rsquo;ve also asked fellow Congress party members there to step in and help if needed.&rdquo;
Gujarat Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil also commented on the incident. &ldquo;Today, a cloudburst occurred in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, in which three people lost their lives. Due to bad weather, a bus carrying 50 passengers from Gujarat also got stranded there. Among the passengers, 30 were from Gandhinagar and 20 from Palanpur. Upon receiving this news, I immediately spoke with our local leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, and with the swift assistance of the police and army, the passengers are now returning to Srinagar. If anyone needs any help, I request the family members or passengers to please contact me.&rdquo;
Union Minister Jitendra Singh acknowledged the Indian Army for setting up medical camps and distributing essential medicines in the affected region. &ldquo;In the aftermath of the torrential hailstorm yesterday, while the district administration team led by energetic DC Baseer Haq has been commendably on the job since last night, it is time also to acknowledge and thank the Indian Army for their timely assistance, which played a crucial role in providing relief to the local population,&rdquo; he said in a post on X.
The situation remains precarious in Ramban district, where at least three people, including two children, died in Bagahana village after two houses collapsed due to a landslide. In Reasi district, two additional deaths were reported as a result of the inclement weather.&nbsp;
The Jammu-Srinagar highway continues to remain closed for a second consecutive day, with heavy rains and landslides disrupting surface travel and damaging property.
Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police confirmed in a morning update that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road, and Sinthan road remain shut. However, the Mughal road is open for light motor vehicles from Srinagar towards Jammu via Poonch between 10:00 and 15:00 hours.&nbsp;
Commuters have been advised not to travel on the affected routes and to check traffic updates via official social media and helpline numbers.
The landslides have affected the travel plans of approximately 10,000 tourists who had scheduled visits to Kashmir in April and early May. About 5,000 tourists from Gujarat have been stranded across locations including Banihal, Ramban, Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.&nbsp;
Many tourists have had to cancel trips to Vaishno Devi, and tour operators in Ahmedabad are reportedly maintaining communication with stranded groups.
Tourists relying on road or rail travel have been forced to cancel or postpone their journeys, while those stuck in Srinagar have had to reschedule flights. This has caused a sudden increase in airfares to cities such as Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Amritsar, and Jammu. Although air travel to and from Kashmir remains operational, alternative road routes such as the Mughal Road are open only partially, primarily for Army and heavy vehicles, leading to slow traffic and further disruptions.&nbsp;
Authorities estimate the road closure could continue for at least 10 more days.
Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, announced that classwork in all schools across the Kashmir Valley would be suspended on Monday, due to the severe weather conditions. The suspension has been ordered as a precaution to ensure the safety of students.
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(Left) Ramban Landslide and Minister Rushikesh Patel (Right)

Gujarat govt confirms safety of 50 tourists stuck in Ramban; food, aid provided amid ongoing bad weather

50 Gujarati Tourists Safe After Ramban Landslide

Gujarat govt confirms safety of 50 tourists stuck in Ramban; food, aid provided amid ongoing bad weather

April 21, 2025 | 13:59 IST