Cloudbursts hit J&K’s Kathua: 7 dead, Multiple injured as rescue operations underway

August 17, 2025

Kathua, August 17: Cloudburst occurred in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on Sunday morning. This is the second incident of cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 3 days. Today, cloudburst occurred at 3 places in the area adjoining the border in Kathua district.

7 people died and many are injured in Jod valley area. Apart from Jod, landslides also occurred in Mathre Chak, Bagard-Changra and Dilwan-Hutli. A similar incident also occurred in Chasoti of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir on 14 August.

After the landslide, Jod village was cut off from the city, after a lot of effort the rescue team reached the village. Houses are filled with water and debris up to several feet. The injured have been admitted to the hospital.

Kathua Deputy SP Rajesh Sharma said – 2 to 3 houses have been damaged in the landslide. 6 people are reported to be trapped. The road has been damaged at many places on the National Highway including Janglot. The railway track is also disrupted.

Minister of State (PMO), Dr Jintendra Singh, said on X, “Spoken to SSP Kathua Sh Shobhit Saxena after receiving information about a cloud burst in the Janglote area. 4 Casualties reported. In addition, damage has occurred to Railway track, National Highway while Police Station Kathua has been affected.”

He further said that the civilian Administration, Military and Paramilitary have swung into action and the situation is being continuously monitored. “My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased,” the Minister said in his post The district 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.

Spoken to SSP Kathua Sh Shobhit Saxena after receiving information about a cloud burst in the Janglote area.

4 Casualties reported. In addition, damage has occurred to Railway track, National Highway while Police Station Kathua has been affected.

The civilian Administration,…

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) August 17, 2025

Information and public relations office of the union territory said on X, “Weather Advisory | Kathua. Heavy to very heavy rainfall reported across the district.Avoid rivers, streams, nallahs, hilly & landslide-prone areas. Stay alert to risk of flash floods & landslides.”

This is the second cloudburst hit in Jammu and Kashmir during the last four days. On August 14, a massive cloudburst hit the Chashoti village in the Padder sub-division of Kishtwar district. So far, 65 bodies have been recovered, and over 100 people have been rescued in the Chashoti cloudburst disaster.

Meanwhile, 75 people have been reported missing by their families, although locals and eyewitnesses claim that hundreds may have been swept away by flash floods and buried under giant boulders, logs, and rubble. Among the deceased were two personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and a Special Police Officer (SPO) of the local police, the officials added. The disaster struck Chashoti, the last motorable village en route to the Machail Mata temple, at approximately 12.25 p.m. on August 14.