7 Dead as Cloudburst Triggers Flash Floods in J&K’s Kathua; Rescue Ops Underway
At least seven people, including four children, have died after a devastating cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The sudden deluge, fueled by heavy overnight rains, has also cut off a village, damaged a railway track and the national highway, and hampered rescue and relief operations.
The tragedy prompted immediate responses from top officials. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives and confirmed that he has briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation. “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the devastating rain-triggered landslides in several areas of Kathua. The tragedy is mind-numbing,” Sinha posted on X, adding that he has directed senior officials to coordinate rescue efforts involving the army, NDRF, SDRF, police, and the civil administration.
Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with LG Sinha and assured all possible support from the Modi government. “Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the local administration and NDRF teams have also been rushed to the site,” Shah wrote on X. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also offered his condolences and assured that all necessary assistance would be provided to the affected families.
The deceased have been identified as Renu Devi (39) and her nine-year-old daughter Radhika from Bagra village. Five others from Jode village also perished in the floods: Surmu Din (30) and his two sons, Fanu (6) and Shedu (5), along with Tahu (2), son of Habib Deen, and Zulfan (15), daughter of Bashir Ahmed.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the damage to the railway track and the national highway and stated that the situation is being continuously monitored. In response to the ongoing severe weather, the Kathua district administration has issued a weather advisory, urging residents to stay away from rivers, streams, and landslide-prone areas. The J&K UT Disaster Management Authority has also issued an alert for heavy rainfall and potential cloudbursts across several districts for the next 56 hours.
