Kashmir, August 17, 2025 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured comprehensive support from the Modi government to aid victims of a devastating cloudburst in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed seven lives and injured several others. The disaster, triggered by heavy rains, struck Jodh Ghati village and Janglote in Kathua district during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, causing landslides and flooding. In a statement, Shah said, “Spoke with the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the cloudburst in Kathua. Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the local administration, and NDRF teams have been rushed to the site. Assured every support from the Modi government. We stand firmly behind our sisters and brothers of J&K.”
The cloudburst led to a sharp rise in water levels in the Ujh river, submerging low-lying areas and damaging infrastructure, including the Jammu-Pathankot railway track, national highway, and Kathua police station. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced ex-gratia relief from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, including Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for the severely injured, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the tragedy as “mind-numbing” and confirmed ongoing rescue operations by the army, NDRF, SDRF, and local administration. Union Minister Jitendra Singh reported four casualties in Janglote and emphasized that the administration, military, and paramilitary forces are actively monitoring the situation.
The disaster follows a similar cloudburst in Kishtwar on August 14, which killed 60 people, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.
