Seven dead, 12 rescued after cloudburst in Jammu’s Kishtwar district

A search and rescue operation has been launched; there’s no mobile phone connectivity in the area, a police officer said

At least seven people were killed and 19 remained missing after flash floods hit Honjar village in Jammu & Kashmir’s remote mountainous Kishtwar district following a cloud burst on Wednesday. Officials said 12 people were rescued as rescuers were rushed to the scene amid heavy rain in the region.

Bridges on one side of the affected area have been washed away and the river is in spate. (Sourced)

Additional director general of police Mukesh Singh said five of the 12 are critically injured. “The rescue operation is on,” said Mukesh Singh.

A second officer said the cloud burst was reported at 4 am and 28 people were initially reported missing.

Kishtwar’s senior police superintendent Shafqat Bhat said they believe 30 to 40 people were in the village at the time of the cloud burst. He added bridges have been washed away in the area and a river there is in full spate. Bhat said Honjar is around 50km from Kishtwar district headquarters.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Centre is closely monitoring the situation. “...in the wake of the cloudbursts in #Kishtwar and #Kargil (Ladakh). All possible assistance is being made available in the affected areas. I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being.”

Officials said air force, army, State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were rushed for the rescue operations.

Union home minister Amit Shah said saving as many lives as possible is the priority. “I have spoken to the LG (Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha) & DGP (director general of police) of Jammu & Kashmir regarding the cloudburst in Kishtwar. SDRF, Army & local administration are carrying out the rescue operation. NDRF is also reaching there.”

Officials said SDRF teams were sent to the area from Doda, Udhampur, and Jammu while a team of NDRF and SDRF each were on standby in Srinagar. SDRF commandant VK Singh said a police team left for the scene on foot. “The area is in the upper reaches of Kishtwar, not accessible by road. Jammu SDRF is on standby. The weather is inclement. One team of SDRF from Srinagar is ready to be airlifted,” said Singh.

The Army said its teams were pressed into service at 7 am.

Sinha condoled the loss of lives. “I am saddened over the loss of lives due to the flash floods caused by the cloudburst. My thoughts are with bereaved families.”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said widespread intermittent rain was most likely to continue till July 30 in Jammu & Kashmir. “Heavy to very heavy rain is also possible at some places,” it said. IMD warned heavy rain may lead to flash floods, mudslides, landslides, and waterlogging in low-lying areas. “Accordingly, people are once again advised to remain alert and very cautious as water levels have risen in all rivers. Don’t venture out on hilly and landslide, mudslide prone areas.”

With inputs from agencies