The Army on Sunday deployed helicopters and several columns in the cloudburst-hit Jodh Ghati village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district. In addition to the civilian administration, military and paramilitary forces swung into action and inducted helicopter services for rescue and relief operations in the cloudburst-hit district .
The calamity struck the village and Janglote amid heavy overnight rains, leaving seven persons dead. Several army columns were inducted into the operation in the affected areas to rescue stranded people and evacuate the injured to hospitals, the officials said.
An Army helicopter deployed for rescue operations in Ghatti airlifted 15 people to hospital, they added.The Dhruv helicopters airlifted injured to a hospital in Pathankot in Punjab.Troops from Rising Star Corps are working on the ground with police, SDRF and locals to rescue families, providing food and medical care, the officials said.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rajesh Sharma, who is supervising the operation, said relief and rescue efforts are underway after seven people lost their lives in rain-triggered landslides in the district.“Heavy rainfall has caused significant damage in Kathua, and unfortunately, we have also lost lives. Five people died and seven were injured, and two more lives were lost in Janglote. We are ensuring the supply of essential items, though connectivity issues persist. Efforts are being made to provide supplies by air,” he said.
Union Minister Dr Jitender Singh in whose Parliamentary constituency this area falls has also confirmed augmenting rescue operations with Army's help. “Spoke to Kathua SSP Shobhit Saxena after receiving information about a cloudburst in the Janglote area,” Singh wrote in an X post.
“Four casualties have been reported (in Janglote). In addition, damage has occurred to the railway track and national highway, while Kathua police station has also been affected,” he added.The civilian administration, military and paramilitary forces have swung into action, he said, adding that the situation is being continuously monitored.Helicopter services have been arranged for shifting the injured to appropriate hospitals, he said.
“Six injured have been airlifted for hospitalisation in Mamoon, Pathankot, which was found to be (the) relatively nearer destination,” the minister wrote, adding, “My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased.” Singh said Deputy Inspector General of Police Shiv Kumar Sharma, along with his team, is camping at the spot and is in constant touch with him. Further assistance will be arranged as and when required, he added
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