After a cloud burst over Honjar hamlet in Kishtwar district in the Jammu region early Wednesday, at least four bodies were discovered and many more are reported missing. However, a police officer in the control room estimated that there were 28 persons missing.
He added, “At around 4 am today [Wednesday], a cloud burst over Honjar village in the Dacchan area of Kishtwar district. We are getting reports that 28 people are missing. A search and rescue operation has been launched. We do not have the exact details for now. There’s no mobile phone connectivity in the area.”
Kishtwar is around 200 kilometres from Jammu, and Dacchan is a rural and hilly location in the Kishtwar district. SSP Shafqat Bhat, the district police officer in Kishtwar, said, “We have recovered four bodies so far from the debris. We believe that 30 to 40 people were in the village when the incident took place.”
Villagers in Jammu build their homes and live on the hills’ dispersed slopes. Bridges on one side of the affected region have been washed away, according to the SSP, and the river is overflowing.“We have sent rescue teams from the nearby police pickets. An army column has also been sent,” he said.
According to Bhat, the impacted area is about 50 kilometres from the district headquarters in Kishtwar. Jammu and Kashmir is expected to experience severe weather, according to the India Meteorological Department.
“Widespread intermittent rain is most likely to continue through July 30. Rainfall ranging from severe to extremely heavy is also possible in some areas, “ According to forecast.
IMD also put out an advisory, stating, “Heavy rain may lead to flash flood, mudslide, landslide and waterlogging (in low lying areas). Accordingly, people are once again advised to remain alert and very cautious as water levels have risen in all rivers. Don’t venture out on hilly and landslide, mudslide prone areas.”
