KATHUA, Aug 17 — At least seven people were killed and six others injured after flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall struck several areas of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the floods occurred between 3:30 and 4 a.m. in Jodh Ghati village of Rajbagh, Inspector Ajay Singh of the local police station said. The floods cut off the entire village and caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and farmland.
District police chief Shobhit Saxena told Hindustan Times that “there was no cloudburst, but there were flash floods. We have also informed the army; they are on a standby.”
Officials said the floods affected Janglote, Jodh Village, Ghatti, Chandarh, Bhed Blore, Bagrah, Dilwan, Hatli, and Lakhanpur. The water inundated a local industrial area, Kendriya Vidyalaya school, and Janglote police station. The railway track and sections of National Highway 44 sustained severe damage, leading to traffic disruptions and leaving passengers stranded in debris and water.
Rescue operations are being carried out by the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Affected families are receiving assistance, and medical care is being provided to the injured.
The Ujh and Sahar Khad rivers rose above danger levels due to continuous rainfall, submerging several houses near the riverbanks. The district administration has urged people to stay away from rivers and reservoirs for safety.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the casualties after speaking with senior officials, adding that civilian, military, and paramilitary forces are coordinating relief efforts.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured support for the affected.
The incident follows a cloudburst earlier this week in Chashoti village of Kishtwar district that killed at least 65 people, nearly 100 missing and injured more than 150.
Kathua district lies in the southern corner of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, sharing its border with Punjab, while Kishtwar is situated in the northeast of the UT, adjoining Himachal Pradesh. Kishtwar forms part of the Chenab region in Jammu division, whereas Kathua is considered part of the Jammu region within the same division.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
