Reasi/Mahore, September 2025 – Continuous torrential and stormy rains over the past several days have wreaked havoc across Jammu and Kashmir, leaving behind a trail of destruction in multiple districts. Among the worst-affected regions is the Mahore sub-division of Reasi, where the fury of adverse weather conditions has devastated villages, destroyed homes, displaced families, and claimed lives.
Residents describe the disaster as one that turned lives upside down within minutes — homes built over generations were reduced to rubble, families found themselves under the open sky, and livelihoods disappeared in the blink of an eye.
According to local sources, the worst-hit areas include Bagga Jamsalan and its adjoining localities, around 22 kilometers from Mahore town. Reports confirm that more than 35 residential houses have been severely damaged, while vast tracts of agricultural land have been destroyed. The Morha Chachi area of Jamsalan, already known for past land sinking incidents, has once again collapsed under heavy rains. A similar tragedy years ago had forced dozens of families to abandon their homes when the ground caved in. Despite repeated surveys and visits by officials and expert teams, locals say no substantial rehabilitation measures were ever undertaken.
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Today, as history repeats itself, residents accuse authorities of negligence, saying that had adequate relocation and resettlement plans been implemented earlier, hundreds of families would not have been forced into another cycle of displacement. “We are living in fear and despair because the land here is no longer habitable. Every new rainfall threatens our existence,” a local villager told The Azadi Times.
The situation has also affected key infrastructure. A portion of the Mahore–Gool–Ramban highway has been damaged due to land subsidence, disrupting transport and cutting off essential supplies.
Destruction in Saardh Village
The tragedy is not confined to Jamsalan alone. In Saardh village, situated about 7 kilometers from Mahore, thousands of kanals of land have sunk, displacing dozens of families and leaving them under makeshift shelters. Many are reported to be living under the open sky with little access to food, water, or medical aid.
A nearly 400-meter stretch of the Mahore–Chasana–Gulabgarh–Rajouri road has also been washed away, and officials admit that restoring the link may take weeks.
Relief and Official Response
Local administration claims to be on the ground, reaching out to victims with immediate relief. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mahore, Shafqat Majeed Butt, accompanied by Tehsildar Mahore, Javed Iqbal, visited the affected villages to assess the situation. Following local complaints of inadequate aid, the SDM announced the appointment of nodal officers for relief operations — B.D. Mahesh Chander in Bagga Jamsalan and T.S.O. Amit Mangotra in Saardh.
Meanwhile, Engineer Khurshid, MLA Gulabgarh, also toured the devastated areas and met survivors. However, many affected families dismissed these visits as “symbolic” and accused both officials and political leaders of making promises without ensuring long-term rehabilitation.
According to SDM Mahore, as many as 323 houses have collapsed across the sub-division. At least 88 families have been shifted to safer locations, while others have taken temporary refuge with relatives or in nearby villages.
Despite these efforts, survivors remain unconvinced, pointing to past disasters where official assurances of resettlement never materialized. “We are tired of visits and empty words. What we need is secure housing and permanent rehabilitation, not temporary tents and promises,” said another displaced villager.
