Seven dead in cloudburst, landslide in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua

Seven members of four families including five children lost their lives in two separate incidents of cloudburst and landslide in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir early on Sunday officials saidThe disasters struck Jodh Ghati village in Rajbagh and Bagra village in Janglote during heavy overnight rainfall causing water levels to rise and submerging several lowlying areas in the district they addedThe Kathua cloudburst comes just three days after a similar flash flood triggered by a cloudburst hit Chisoti village in Kishtwar district on August 14 leaving 60 dead and over 100 injured reported PTIOfficials stated that five people including a man and his two young sons died in Jodh Ghati after the cloudburst severed access to the village and damaged several mud houses In the Bagra village of Janglote a motherdaughter pair were killed in a landslide caused by the rainsAs reported by PTI the Army evacuated six injured individuals from Jodh Ghati and brought them to nearby hospitalsIndian Army columns on the ground in Kathua rescuing families giving hope food amp care after the cloudburst Rising Star Corps said in a post on XThe post included images of soldiers assisting affected residents and moving them to safetyOfficials identified the deceased as Surmu Din 32 and his sons Fanu 6 and Shedu 5 along with Zulfoon 15 and Tahu 2 from Jodh Ghati and Renu Devi 39 and her daughter Radhika 9 from Janglote reported PTIThe injured were identified as Surmu Dinrsquos wife Gogli Begum 26 and daughter Nageena 3 months as well as Habib Dinrsquos wife Karoon Begum 26 and daughters Rafia Begum 4 Aisha Begum 6 and Parveen Akhter 8A social media video showed collapsed mud houses of the victims with survivors trying to pull a partially buried girl from the rubble and frantically searching for missing family members reported PTIThe landslide caused by heavy rains also affected Changda villages under Kathua police jurisdiction and DilwanHutli in the Lakhanpur police station area though no significant damage was reportedContinuous rainfall has led to a sharp rise in water levels across most water bodies with the Ujh River nearing the danger mark Several lowlying areas have been submerged and floodwaters have entered homes and shops officials saidAs reported by PTI the district administration is closely monitoring the situation and has advised residents to stay away from rivers and other water bodies Police in Kathua urged people particularly in hilly regions to remain indoors and avoid water bodies due to the risk of flash floods amid heavy rainsFor any emergency please contact the nearest Police Station or call on helpline numbers 9858034100 or 112 the police said reported PTITrain services along the JammuPathankot rail line have been disrupted following the cloudburst prompting authorities to cancel local trains and shortterminate othersUnion Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about the Kathua cloudburst and assured full support from the government reported PTISpoke with the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the cloudburst in Kathua Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the local administration and NDRF teams have also been rushed to the site Assured every support from the Modi government We stand firmly behind our sisters and brothers of JampK Shah wrote on XSinha Abdullah and Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incidents reported PTIDeeply anguished by the loss of lives in the devastating raintriggered landslides in several areas of Kathua The tragedy is mindnumbing Briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on rescue and relief operations by the army NDRF SDRF police and administration I have directed senior civil and police officials to coordinate and execute rescue and aid efforts in the affected areas and ensure onsite medical assistance My thoughts are with bereaved families and praying for the swift recovery of those injured the Lt Governor said in a post on XThe Chief Minister announced exgratia relief for the deceased from the CMrsquos Relief FundIn a post shared by the office of the Chief Minister on X Abdullah said the assistance is aimed at providing immediate relief and supporting affected families in rebuilding their livesThe Chief Minister expressing deep concern for the lives and property affected by the recent cloudburst in Kathua has announced exgratia assistance from the CMs Relief Fund in addition to SDRF support the post read reported PTIThe relief package includes Rs 2 lakh for each deceased Rs 1 lakh for those severely injured and Rs 50000 for minor injuriesAs reported by PTI the Chief Minister also approved Rs 1 lakh for fully damaged houses Rs 50000 for severely damaged houses and Rs 25000 for partially damaged housesAbdullah conveyed condolences to the bereaved families prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and assured them that all necessary assistance would be providedSingh stated that civilian administration military and paramilitary forces have mobilised to carry out rescue and relief operations in KathuaSpoke to SSP Kathua Sh Shobhit Saxena after receiving information about a cloudburst in the Janglote area Singh wrote on X reported PTIMeanwhile the weather department has forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms in many areas with heavy showers expected at some places in Jammu division especially Jammu Reasi Udhampur Rajouri Poonch Samba and Kathua districts Moderate to heavy showers are also expected in Doda Kishtwar and Ramban until August 19With inputs from PTI