Kishtwar Cloudburst: 7 Dead While Over 30 Missing; PM Modi Assures Govt 'Monitoring Situation'

It has been raining heavily in the Jammu region for the past few days. More rain is expected by the end of July.

cloudburst

Jammu-Kashmir: In a highly shocking incident, at least 7 people lost lives while over 25 people are reported missing in the cloudburst which struck Honzar village in Dacchan tehsil in Jammu and Kishtwar`s Kishtwar district around 4.30 am. Some houses were swept away in a remote villages leaving several missing and injured.

The network lines have been affected due to heavy rain. Rescue operation is underway with the help of SDRF and Army, 12 people have been rescued. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the central government is closely monitoring the situation in Kishtwar and Kargil following cloudbursts. All possible assistance is being provided to the affected areas, he said, wishing for everyone's safety and well-being.

District Development Commissioner, Kishtwar, Ashok Kumar Sharma, told PTI that a total of six houses were swept away by the flash floods triggered by the cloudburst and a search and rescue operation was on when last reports were received. 

With Jammu expecting to receive more rains by the end of July, Kishtwar officials have asked people living near water bodies and slide prone areas, to remain vigilant. In an advisory issued on Tuesday night, the district administration said, "The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains during the upcoming days, which may increase the water level in rivers and streams and threaten the people living near them."

Heavy rains have caused havoc in many states of the country. Heavy to very heavy rains are occurring over North-West India including Delhi-NCR and Western Himalayan states. The Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted one more day of heavy rain in the region. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to happen in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and West Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday and thereafter there will be a decrease.