Days after Kishtwar, cloudburst kills 4 in J&K's Kathua, houses buried

India Today

12 hours ago

At least four people were killed and six injured after a cloudburst struck a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, days after a similar incident in Kishtwar left over 60 dead earlier this week.Several houses were buried under rubble and floodwaters in the Ghati area, officials said. Damage was also reported on the Jammu–Pathankot National Highway. Rescue teams are at the spot. advertisementIn another visual accessed by India Today TV, a police station in Kathua has been completely submerged. A railway track has also been damaged, officials said.
The incident happened during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, snapping access to the village and causing some damage to land and property.A joint team of police and SDRF have been rushed to the village and further details are awaited, officials told news agency PTI.They said landslides also hit Bagard and Changda villages under the jurisdiction of Kathua police station and Dilwan-Hutli in Lakhanpur police station area but there was no major report of damage.The heavy rains have led to a sharp increase in the level in most of the water bodies with the Ujh river flowing near the danger mark, the officials said.The district administration is closely watching the situation and have requested people to stay away from water bodies for their safety, the officials said.Shortly after the incident, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured all necessary assistance for those affected."Chief Minister has expressed grief over the tragic loss of lives and damage caused by landslides in several parts of District Kathua, including Jodh Khad and Juthana, which claimed 4 lives and left many injured. He conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, and assured all necessary assistance," an official statement from CMO read.LG Manoj Sinha extended condolences to the victims' families and said he is in constant touch with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the ongoing rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas.Taking to X, he wrote, 'Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the devastating rain-triggered landslides in several areas of Kathua. The tragedy is mind-numbing. Briefed Hon'ble Union Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah Ji on rescue and relief operations by the army, NDRF, SDRF, police & administration."'I have directed the Senior Civil & Police Officials to coordinate and execute rescue and aid efforts in the affected areas and ensure on-site medical assistance. My thoughts are with bereaved families and praying for the swift recovery of those injured," he further said.advertisementMeanwhile, hundreds of people still remain missing in Kishtwar after flash floods swept through the region on the Machail Mata Yatra route to the Himalayan shrine of Mata Chandi, with many feared buried under the debris.So far, 167 people have been rescued in injured condition, and the condition of 38 among them is said to be serious. Many more are believed to be trapped following the deluge, which flattened a makeshift market, a langar (community kitchen) site for the yatra, and a security outpost.- EndsInputs from PTI