Jammu | Aug,17: Four people were on Sunday morning killed and six others injured in a cloudburst in the Ghati area of Kathua district barely two day after a similar incident in Kishtwar claimed over 60 lives . The heavy rainfall caused significant damage, burying several houses under rubble and floodwaters, and impacting infrastructure, including the Jammu–Pathankot National Highway and a police station, which was completely submerged.
Rescue operations are underway, with a joint team of police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed to the affected village. Landslides also occurred in nearby areas, although no major damage was reported there. The district administration is monitoring water levels, particularly in the Ujh river, which is nearing a danger mark, and has advised residents to avoid water bodies for safety.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed condolences for the loss of life and damage caused by the landslides, assuring that necessary assistance would be provided to those affected. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also extended his sympathies and is coordinating with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding ongoing rescue efforts.
In Kishtwar, the situation remains dire, with hundreds still missing after flash floods disrupted the Machail Mata Yatra route. So far, 167 individuals have been rescued, with 38 in serious condition, as many are feared trapped under debris following the disaster that destroyed a makeshift market and community kitchen.
