Cloudburst in Kathua Kills 4, Damages NH44 and Railway Tracks; Rescue Ops Underway

Jammu, Aug 17: At least four people were killed and six others injured after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Kathua district on Sunday morning, causing widespread destruction, officials said.

Floodwaters swept through Janglote, Jodh village, Ghatti, Chandarh, Bhed Blore, Bagrah, Dilwan, Hatli and Lakhanpur, inundating homes, the industrial area, Kendriya Vidyalaya school, and the local police station. Critical infrastructure, including railway lines and stretches of NH44, suffered heavy damage, disrupting connectivity.

The Army, SDRF and NDRF have been deployed for rescue and evacuation, while emergency teams race to provide medical care to the injured and restore essential services. Authorities have urged residents to stay away from rivers and streams as continuous rainfall poses risks of sudden flash floods and landslides.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed the casualties and said civilian, military, and paramilitary forces were on the ground. “The loss of lives is tragic. Connectivity has been hit with railway and highway damage, but all agencies are actively engaged in relief,” he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the tragedy, extended condolences to the bereaved families, and directed officials to ensure immediate relief, rescue, and evacuation. “Our priority is to safeguard lives and support the affected communities,” he stated.