Heavy rainfall triggered a cloudburst in Jod Ghati village of Rajbagh, Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir, during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The deluge has resulted in the loss of at least four lives, with six individuals reported injured.

The cloudburst has disrupted access to the remote village and caused significant damage to land and property. Rescue operations were initiated early Sunday by a joint team comprising local police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local volunteers. The injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals.

In response to the tragedy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed the administration to prioritize relief, rescue, and evacuation measures in the affected Kathua district.

Landslides were also reported in Bagard and Changda villages, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Kathua police station, and in the Dilwan-Hutli area of Lakhanpur. While these landslides did not cause major damage, the heavy rains have caused a sharp increase in the water levels of most water bodies, with the Ujh river nearing the danger mark. The district administration is closely monitoring the situation and has requested people to stay away from water bodies for their safety.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh has acknowledged the incident and stated that the civilian administration, military, and paramilitary forces are actively involved in rescue and relief operations. He also noted that the cloudburst has caused damage to railway tracks and the National Highway, and has affected the Kathua Police Station.

This recent cloudburst follows a similar incident in the Kishtwar district earlier in the week, which claimed the lives of over 60 people. The series of extreme weather events has prompted concerns about the region's vulnerability to such disasters.