J&K: 4 killed as heavy rain hits Kathua village

After Kishtwar, now Kathua district have become the victim of heavy rain and floods. At least four people were killed and many others were injured due to flooding caused by a cloudburst in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said on Sunday. The cloudburst struck a village in Janglote during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.Several houses were buried under rubble and floodwaters in the Ghati area, officials said.

VIDEO | Kathua: At least 4 dead and 6 injured after a cloudburst struck Jod Ghati village in Rajbagh during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

(Source: Third Party)

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Damage was also reported on the Jammu–Pathankot National Highway. Rescue teams are at the spot. “The incidents occurred between 3.30 and 4 am,” said inspector Ajay Singh from the the police station of Rajbagh area, “Advance parties have reached the area.”

#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: A cloud burst incident took place in Kauthua's Janglote area. 4 casualties reported: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

(Visuals from the area en route to Kauthua's Janglote area) pic.twitter.com/bUJFq9qJK0

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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday directed the administration to carry out relief, rescue and evacuation measures to ensure safety of people in cloudburst and landslide-hit Kathua district. Chief Minister has expressed grief over the tragic loss of lives and damage caused by landslides in several parts of Kathua, including Jodh Khad and Juthana, which claimed four lives and left many injured.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the civilian administration, military and paramilitary forces have swung into action to carry out rescue and relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district where four persons have died in a cloudburst.

The Kathua administration issued a weather advisory and said "heavy to very heavy rainfall" is reported across the district. It also requested the public to stay away from water bodies. It also released the following helpline numbers: 01922-238796 and 9858034100. Heavy rainfall has led to a sharp increase in the level of most of the water bodies, with the Ujh river flowing near the danger mark, the officials said.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives, and said he had union home minister Amit Shah on the rescue and relief operations. Union minister Jitendra Singh, Lok Sabha MP from the area, also shared details.

Kathua is in a southern corner of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, bordering Punjab, while Kishtwar is in its northeast, next to Himachal Pradesh. District police chief Shobhit Saxena confirmed the death toll and said, “There was no cloudburst, but there were flash floods. We have also informed the army; they are on a standby.”