J&K Cloudburst: 7 Dead in Kathua

Seven Killed in Jammu & Kashmir Cloudburst and Landslide

A deadly cloudburst struck a remote village in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir overnight, leading to a landslide that has claimed at least seven lives and injured six others. The incident occurred in Jod Ghati village of Rajbagh, severing access to the area and causing significant damage to property.

In response, joint rescue teams from the police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Army have been dispatched to the site and are conducting operations with the help of local volunteers. Authorities have retrieved the bodies of the deceased, and the injured are being moved to nearby hospitals for treatment. The district administration is monitoring the situation closely and has advised people to avoid proximity to water bodies for their safety.

High-ranking officials, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh, have been in communication with local authorities, assuring full support from the central government for the rescue and aid efforts.

This tragedy follows another major cloudburst that occurred just days earlier in a remote village in the Kishtwar district, which resulted in approximately 65 fatalities. That incident, which struck Chashoti village, also triggered massive flash floods that destroyed homes, bridges, and parts of the Machail Mata Yatra route, leaving hundreds of people potentially trapped. Rescue operations in Kishtwar are also ongoing, with teams using explosives to clear giant boulders hampering their efforts.