At least 68 people have been killed and more than 120 injured after a series of cloudburst incidents hit villages in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting authorities to close schools and issue fresh weather warnings for the region.
A String of Deadly Cloudbursts
Officials confirmed three separate cloudburst incidents over the last four days. Chashoti village in Kishtwar district suffered the heaviest toll, while Jodh Valley and Janglote areas of Kathua district also reported casualties.
The combined impact has been devastating—68 dead, 122 injured, and several homes swept away. Local rescue teams, joined by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have been working around the clock to recover bodies and pull survivors from debris.
One local resident said, “The water came down with such force that people didn’t even have time to run.”
Schools Closed Across Jammu Division
With rain showing no sign of stopping, the Director of School Education ordered the closure of all government and private schools in Jammu division on Monday, August 18.
The decision affects students across multiple districts, from Jammu city to remote hill areas. Authorities cited safety concerns as many schools are located in flood-prone zones or along hilly slopes vulnerable to landslides.
Parents, though worried about the weather, welcomed the closure. “It’s better our children stay home. The roads are dangerous right now,” one father in Udhampur told reporters.
Weather Department Sounds Fresh Alarm
The Meteorological Department has issued an advisory predicting heavy rainfall with thunderstorms from August 17 to 19. The advisory warned of possible cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides across both Jammu and Kashmir.
Districts under alert include:
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Jammu
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Reasi
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Udhampur
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Rajouri
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Poonch
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Samba
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Kathua
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Doda
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Kishtwar
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Ramban
Some areas of Kashmir valley have also been marked as vulnerable. Officials have asked residents living near rivers and hilly terrains to remain on high alert.
Rescue and Relief Efforts Underway
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), NDRF, and Army units have been deployed to affected zones. Helicopters have been kept on standby for airlifts in case road links collapse.
Authorities are also setting up temporary shelters for displaced families. Food packets, medical aid, and blankets are being distributed. However, with continuous rain hampering access, relief is moving slower than expected.
A senior disaster management officer admitted, “We are battling both weather and terrain. Every trip to a cut-off village is risky.”
A Pattern of Rising Disasters
Cloudbursts are not new to the Himalayan belt, but officials note that their frequency appears to be increasing. Fragile terrain, deforestation, and climate shifts have made regions like Jammu, Kathua, and Kishtwar more prone to sudden weather shocks.
Data from India’s disaster management authority shows cloudburst-linked casualties in Jammu and Kashmir rising over the past decade. Villages along steep slopes and river valleys remain the most exposed.
Residents now fear every downpour. As one villager in Ramban put it, “Rain no longer feels like rain. It feels like a threat.”
