Cloudburst, landslide in J&K’s Kathua kill 7; rescue operations continue
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Jammu: Seven members of four families, including five children, were killed in separate cloudburst and landslide incidents in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir early Sunday, officials said. The disasters struck Jodh Ghati village of Rajbagh and Bagra village of Janglote amid heavy overnight rainfall, causing a rise in water levels and submerging many low-lying areas.
The cloudburst in Kathua occurred just three days after flash floods triggered by a similar event in Chisoti village, Kishtwar district, on August 14, which left 60 people dead and over 100 injured. In Kathua, five people, including a man and his two young sons, died in Jodh Ghati, where the cloudburst cut off access to the village and damaged several mud houses. Meanwhile, a mother-daughter duo perished in a rain-triggered landslide at Bagra village of Janglote.
The deceased were identified as Surmu Din (32), his sons Fanu (6) and Shedu (5), Zulfoon (15), and Tahu (2) from Jodh Ghati, and Renu Devi (39) and her daughter Radhika (9) from Janglote. The injured included Surmu Din’s wife Gogli Begum (26), daughter Nageena (3 months), and Habib Din’s wife Karoon Begum (26), along with daughters Rafia Begum (4), Aisha Begum (6), and Parveen Akhter (8). Six injured from Jodh Ghati were evacuated by the Army to hospitals for treatment.
A video circulating on social media showed collapsed mud houses with survivors attempting to rescue a half-buried girl and searching frantically for missing persons. Landslides also affected Changda village under Kathua police jurisdiction and Dilwan-Hutli in Lakhanpur, though no major damage was reported there. Heavy rains have sharply raised water levels in local rivers, including the Ujh, with several low-lying areas submerged, prompting the district administration to urge residents to stay away from water bodies.
Police cautioned people, especially those in hilly areas, to remain indoors and avoid approaching water bodies due to the risk of flash floods. Train traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot line was disrupted following the cloudburst, leading to cancellation and short-termination of some services.
Chief Minister Abdullah announced ex-gratia assistance from the CM’s Relief Fund and the State Disaster Response Fund, providing Rs 2 lakh for each deceased, Rs 1 lakh for the severely injured, and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries. Additionally, he sanctioned Rs 1 lakh for fully damaged houses, Rs 50,000 for severely damaged houses, and Rs 25,000 for partially damaged homes.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, assuring full support from the central government. “Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the local administration and NDRF teams have been rushed to the site. We stand firmly behind our sisters and brothers of J&K,” Shah said on X.
Sinha, Abdullah, and Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed grief over the loss of lives. The Lieutenant Governor directed senior civil and police officials to coordinate rescue and aid operations, ensure medical assistance on site, and conveyed thoughts for the bereaved families.
Singh confirmed that civilian administration, military, and paramilitary forces have swung into action to carry out rescue and relief efforts in Kathua. The weather office has forecast light to moderate rain and thunder showers at many places, with heavy rainfall expected in parts of Jammu division, including Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Samba, and Kathua, and moderate to intense showers over Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban through August 19.
With PTI inputs
