Kathua: Days after the devastating cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district that claimed more than 60 lives, another cloudburst struck Kathua, killing at least four people and injuring many others, officials said on Sunday.
The incident occurred in a remote village of Janglote during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
GoI Minister Jitendra Singh, MP from Udhampur, said a railway track, the Srinagar-Jammu highway and even a police station were damaged. “The civilian administration, military and paramilitary have swung into action. The situation is being continuously monitored,” he posted on X, extending condolences to the families of the deceased.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah too expressed grief and directed officials to speed up relief, rescue and evacuation efforts in Kathua, where several areas including Jodh Khad and Juthana were hit by landslides.
The Kathua administration issued a weather advisory, warning of “heavy to very heavy rainfall” across the district and urging people to stay away from rivers, streams and hilly areas prone to flash floods and landslides. Helplines 01922-238796 and 9858034100 have also been issued.
Officials said water levels in most water bodies have risen sharply, with the Ujh river flowing close to the danger mark.
The Kathua tragedy comes close on the heels of the August 14 Kishtwar cloudburst, where flash floods hit Chisoti village during the annual Machail Mata pilgrimage, killing more than 60 people, injuring over 100, and leaving at least 82 still missing.
