J&K rains: Kathua flash floods kill four, rescue operations on

Heavy rains leading to flash floods in Ghati village of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir have killed four people and injured six on Sunday. 

This occurred within a few days after a similar incident caused by a landslide killed at least 60 people on their way to the Machail Mata Yatra in Kishtwar district. 

A family is feared to be buried alive under the debris after a landslide struck Juthana Jod near Ghati, early on Sunday. This happened at the same interval of time when the cloudbursts hit Ghati (a remote village in the Rajbagh area of the Kathua district) and two other nearby villages. This hampered access to the village. 

Inspector Ajay Singh, from the Rajbagh police station area, said, "The incidents occurred between 3:30 am and 4 am. Advanced parties have reached the area." 

Joining the rescue efforts in the region, a joint team of the police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reached Ghati. According to PTI, the officials recovered the bodies of four persons and rescued six injured. 

Kathua witnessed heavy waterlogging in various areas, affecting roads as well as railway tracks. 

The deaths were confirmed by District Police Chief Shobhit Saxena. He said, "There was no cloudburst, but there were flash floods. We have also informed the army; they are on a standby." 

The water levels in the Sahar Khad and Ujh rivers have been on a sharp increase over the past few days due to heavy rains in the valley. Flash floods occurred in the Ujh River early Sunday. 

Union Minister Jitendra Singh also took to X, posting about the situation, "The civil administration, military, and paramilitary have swung into action. The situation is being continuously monitored." 

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

Landslides hit the Bagard and Changda villages of Kathua, and Diwan Hutli in Lakhanpur, but there was no damage reported. 

The Indian Army has already intensified rescue operations in the Kishtwar district after Thursday's flash floods. It is leading ground operations, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Police, and the local administration.