JAMMU: As many as seven people were killed and 17 other suffered injuries following a cloudburst in a remote village of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir early on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind expressed grief over the loss of lives due to flash floods caused by a cloud burst in Dacchan, Kishtwar.
"Over 20 people are still reported missing in the cloudburst which struck Honzar village in Dacchan tehsil around 4.30 am, official sources said, adding a massive rescue operation by Army police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is on.
"The village is an over three hours journey on foot from the last road connectivity,” officials added.
"Seven people are dead and 17 others injured have been evacuated from cloudburst site so far,” said Ashok Kumar Sharma, district development commissioner, Kishtwar.
He said 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.
“Many more people are still missing and we are collecting their exact number,” DC Kishtwar Mr Sharma said.
He added that a rescue operation is on jointly by police, civil administration actively assisted by Army and SDRF which still is on.
Referring to similar incidents in the district, the DC Kishtwar said two cloudbursts also had struck remote Lambard area overnight but there was no report of any loss of life.
“However some damage to infrastructure is reported but exact details are awaited,” he added.
He also said 60 families were evacuated to safety from the Paddar area in view of incessant rains which posed a threat to their homes.
Flash floods have also been reported from Machail, Paddar and Bunjwah in the Kishtwar district.
Meanwhile, director general of police-cum-commandant general home guard, civil defence and SDRF, V K Singh, said, “One of our SDRF teams from Kishtwar reached the affected village and two more teams are on their way from Doda and Udhampur districts."
"Weather is inclement, two SDRF teams are waiting for weather to improve to get airlifted from Jammu and Srinagar to join the rescue mission,” Singh said, adding a NDRF team from Ludhiana in Punjab is also on the way to Kishtwar.
According to Jammu Zone police, in the incidents of cloudburst at Honzar Dachhan area of Kishtwar district, the number of missing persons are 20 while the six dead have been identified as Saja Begum W/O Ghulam Mohd of Honzar Dachhan; Rakila Begum W/O Zakir Ahmed (Nomad); Ghulam Nabi S/O Ghulam Rasool of Honzar Dachhan; Abdul Majid S/O Nazir Ahmed of Honzar; Zaytoona Begum W/O Haji Lai, Din (Nomad); Touseef Iqbal S/O Mohd Iqbal of Honzar Dachhan.
Jammu Zone police also added that 12 injured have been evacuated while around six residential houses, one ration depot, one Bridge at Kiyar and other property got damaged.
PRO(Defence) Jammu, Lt Col Devender Anand said, "Two Indian Army Columns mobilised to assist civil administration of J&K in rescue operations in District Kishtwar (J&K)."
"First Army column mobilised early morning and joined civil administration of J&K in rescue operation. Second Army column reaching shortly."
"One SDRF column ready to be airlifted from Air Force station Jammu subject to weather clearance, Col Anand added.
Union minister Jitendra Singh and J&K Lt governor Sinha said they are monitoring the situation arising out of the natural calamity.
The Union minister Dr Singh in a tweet, said that he spoke to district magistrate Kishtwar and air force authorities were contacted for lifting the injured as and when required.
“Keeping close track of the situation. Every kind of further help will be provided as per requirement,” Singh, who is a member of parliament from Udhampur constituency which also covers Kishtwar," Dr Singh tweeted.
In a tweet on the handle of office of LG J&K, Sinha said “Saddened over loss of precious lives due to flash floods caused by cloudburst in Dacchan, Kishtwar. My thoughts are with bereaved families.
“Spoke to senior authorities and district administration. Army and SDRF team working on war footing to rescue people and trace the missing persons. I am continuously monitoring the situation,” the Lt governor wrote.
Senior PDP leader and former Member Legislative Council (MLC) Fidroud Tak also expressed shock over the “unfortunate incident” and called for intensification of the rescue operation to save precious human lives.
