Authorities shut schools in Jammu division, issue weather advisory after fresh cloudbursts kill seven in J&K
A view of the damage in the aftermath of a cloudburst at Janglote area, in Kathua on Sunday. 4 casualties reported.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday ordered the closure of schools in the Jammu division and issued a weather advisory after fresh cloudbursts on Sunday killed at least seven people, including five children, and left more than a dozen injured in Kathua district.
“In view of the inclement and bad weather conditions, it is hereby ordered that all government as well as private schools of Jammu Division shall remain closed for tomorrow, i.e., 18.8.2025,” the order said.
The Meteorological Department warned of heavy rain and thundershowers between August 17 and 19, cautioning of possible cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas. Districts on alert include Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Samba, Kathua, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and parts of Kashmir.
Officials said five people, four of them minors, died in Jodh Ghati of Kathua district when a cloudburst triggered flash floods. In another incident in Bagra Janglote, a woman and her nine-year-old daughter were killed. Eleven others sustained injuries, six of whom were shifted to an army hospital in Pathankot.
Local residents said intorrentail rains had swelled the streams in the area, worsening the impact of the cloudbursts.
Rescue operations were launched by the army, police and local residents. “Indian Army columns on the ground in Kathua — rescuing families, giving hope, food and care after the cloudburst,” the army’s Rising Star Corps posted on X.
The incidents occurred as search operations continued for a fifth straight day in Chisoti village of Kishtwar valley, where a massive cloudburst on Aug. 14 killed at least 61 people, most of them pilgrims, and left about 70 missing. Multiple agencies, including the army, police, NDRF, SDRF, BRO and local volunteers are involved, with heavy machinery and dog squads deployed.
Published on August 18, 2025
