Flash Floods Devastate Chatroo: Schools Closed and Residents Evacuated in Kishtwar

Severe Weather Hits Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu: A cloudburst in the Chatroo region of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, led to flash floods early Saturday, damaging at least two homes and two shops, while two vehicles were swept away, according to officials.

Continuous rainfall has disrupted daily life throughout the Chenab valley, resulting in the closure of schools in Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban districts.

Authorities have directed schools to shift to online classes during this period.

The cloudburst occurred around 2:30 AM, causing a sudden influx of water that partially damaged residential properties and shops, and swept away parked cars near a stream.

The main market was inundated with debris, including boulders and mud, and the Kishtwar-Chatroo-Sinthan National Highway was temporarily inaccessible. However, after several hours of intensive work, the road was reopened.

Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma promptly coordinated with relevant agencies to initiate rescue operations, assess damage, and restore normalcy.

All individuals affected by the floods have been relocated to safer areas, and evaluations of structural damage to homes, shops, roads, and drainage systems are currently in progress.

The deputy commissioner urged residents to heed official warnings, steer clear of drains and unstable water channels, and cooperate with authorities for their safety.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Jitendra Singh communicated with the deputy commissioner shortly after the cloudburst was reported.

He assured that shopkeepers and business owners impacted by the floods would receive compensation according to government relief policies.

Singh noted that the government has enhanced disaster preparedness in the district following last year's tragic Chasoti cloudburst, which resulted in the deaths of 63 individuals, primarily devotees visiting the Machail Mata shrine. Approximately 30 people remain unaccounted for since that incident.

To bolster weather monitoring and provide timely alerts during severe weather, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has installed Early Warning Systems (EWS) in both Kishtwar and Machhail.