Jammu, Aug 18: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday visited the villages in Kathua district affected by cloudburst and landslides, and assured the victims of full government support in terms of relief, rehabilitation and long-term assistance.
In two separate incidents in the early hours of Sunday, seven people, including five children, were killed and 15 others injured after a cloudburst hit Jodh Ghati village of Rajbagh and a landslide struck Bagra village of Janglote. The deceased belonged to four families.
Choudhary, who was accompanied by National Conference Jammu unit president Rattan Lal Gupta, took stock of the situation on ground and interacted with the victims currently sheltered in relief camps. He directed district officials to ensure timely relief distribution, proper shelter and rehabilitation measures.
Reiterating the Omar Abdullah-led government’s commitment, the Deputy Chief Minister said: “The government will stand by every affected family and provide them all necessary support, both immediate and long-term, so they can rebuild their lives with dignity.”
The Deputy CM also visited Government Medical College (GMC), Kathua, to meet seven of the injured persons under treatment there. He instructed hospital authorities to provide best possible medical care to the injured. Later, he visited the Military Hospital in Pathankot, Punjab, where other injured victims have been admitted.
Meanwhile, authorities in Kathua have halted the recharge of the main Ravi canal after severe damage was caused by flooding triggered by the Jodh Ghati cloudburst. A district administration spokesperson said: “The unprecedented rainfall caused major structural issues to the canal, making waterflow and recharge operations unsafe and technically unviable at this stage.”
Technical teams have confirmed that extensive repair and restoration work is needed before recharge operations can resume. The administration appealed to the public for patience and cooperation, stressing that the safety of nearby communities and infrastructure integrity remain its top priority.
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