Seven killed in cloudburst in J&K’s Kishtwar

At least seven people were killed and 17 injured after a cloudburst hit remote Hunzar village, in Dacchan area of the hilly Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, early Wednesday.

Fourteen people are still missing and rescue operations are on to trace them, it is learnt. Five of the 17 injured are in critical condition, according to officials.

According to police, six houses, a ration depot and a bridge were damaged in flash floods triggered by the cloudburst in Hunzar around 4.30 am. More than a dozen houses and nearly two dozen cowsheds were completely damaged, it is learnt.

J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured grievously, besides Rs 12,700 under SDRF. Relief under SDRF for material losses will also be provided by the Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner, he said.

Cloudbursts have been reported from several places in J&K since Tuesday night.

Poonch: People remove debris after collapse of a house due to a landslide following heavy rains, in Ghani area of Mankote in Poonch district, Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (PTI)

Separate cloudbursts were reported from remote Lambard area — one at Paddar and another Patnazi (Bounjwa) in Kishtwar district — at 10.30 pm and 11.35 pm, respectively. No loss of life was reported from these areas. There were reports that two bridges were damaged, and the 14-MW power project at Dondi was partially damaged. A cloudburst was also reported around Amarnath cave in south Kashmir Himalayas.

Cloudbursts were reported from Khangral and Sangra villages in Kargil district, in the Union Territory of Ladakh, as well.

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PM Narendra Modi tweeted that the Centre is closely monitoring the situation. Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with L-G Sinha and DGP Dilbag Singh and took stock of the situation.