Omar, Mehbooba condole deaths due to Kishtwar cloudburst

Srinagar, Jul 28: Former J&K chief ministers -- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- on Wednesday expressed grief over the deaths due to flashfloods triggered by cloudburst in a remote village in Kishtwar district of Jammu division.

Four bodies were recovered while several persons were missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods on Wednesday morning in remote village Honjar of Dachhan in Kishtwar.

“Terrible news coming in this morning from Kishtwar where a cloud burst has struck the upper reaches,” Ms Abdullah, who is the Vice President of National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

Mr Abdullah said that he is praying that the people missing are recovered safe and sound. “May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” he added.

Ms Mehbooba, who is the president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that she is distressed to hear about the cloudburst in Kishtwar today. “My deepest sympathies with those who have lost their loved ones & prayers for those missing,” she tweeted.

Meanwhile, a Met department official said that widespread intermittent rain will most likely continue till July 30 and heavy rain is also possible at some places. “It may lead to flash flood, mudslide, landslide and water logging (low lying areas). Accordingly, people are advised to remain alert and very cautious as water levels have increased in all rivers. Don't venture out on hilly and landslides, mudslide prone areas,” he said.