Massive Cloudburst in J&K’s Kishtwar, Casualties Feared Amid Heavy Monsoon Rains

J&K’s Kishtwar hit by massive cloudburst; IMD issues heavy rain alert.

A massive cloudburst struck the Paddar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on August 14, 2025, triggering fears of casualties. The incident occurred in the Chositi area, officials confirmed. Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that he had spoken to Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma regarding the situation.

The cloudburst comes amid heavy monsoon activity across the country. In Vijayawada, intense rainfall left several areas waterlogged, and a 51-year-old man died after accidentally falling into an underground drainage during cleaning operations near Gulammohiddin Street.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is set to intensify rainfall over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, North Madhya Pradesh, and West Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, bringing moderate to intense showers.

Authorities have urged residents in affected areas to remain cautious as rescue operations are underway in Kishtwar.