A cloudburst in the Janglote area of Kathua has left four people dead and caused damage to a railway track, the national highway, and the local police station.
Multiple flash flood incidents were reported today in Mandi district at Panarsa, Takoli, and Nagwain areas along the Mandi-Kullu stretch of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) Counter Insurgency Force - Delta, Major General A. P. S. Bal, said all the security forces are trying their best to rescue as many people as possible from the area affected by the cloudburst.
"There has been a huge loss of life and damage in Kishtwar. A search and rescue operation is being carried out here. A large number of people are still missing. PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are personally monitoring the situation. J&K CM Omar
Rescue operations in flood-hit Kishtwar began on August 14, with SDRF, NDRF, and NGOs recovering seven bodies on August 16. BRO is clearing boulders in a challenging operation. Army-led relief continues amid ex-gratia announcements by J-K Chief Minister.
J-K Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma said rescue teams evacuated injured first and cleared debris, aided by army and disaster forces. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reported 55 bodies recovered as rescue continues, prioritising relief and rehabilitation amid challenging conditions.
Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah confirmed almost 55 deaths and over 100 injuries after the Kishtwar flash flood disaster. He said rescue efforts are the priority, with many still missing, and assured that relief and rehabilitation of affected families will follow.
According to a release, the authority reported that two national highways, NH-305 and NH-05, are among the blocked routes, with landslides and flash floods hampering connectivity, particularly in Mandi, Kullu, and Kinnaur districts.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday took stock of the rescue and relief operations in the flash-flood-affected Chashoti area of Kishtwar and directed officials to ensure immediate and uninterrupted essential supplies to those affected.