Jammu: A cloudburst in the Warwan Valley of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district last Tuesday damaged nearly 190 houses and killed 45 cattle, prompting large-scale relief and rehabilitation efforts by multiple agencies.
Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, who visited the remote Marwah-Warwan Valley, announced one month’s free ration for the affected families. Relief material from the Red Cross was also distributed on the spot.
The cloudburst struck Margi hamlet on August 26, causing extensive destruction but fortunately no loss of human lives.
“Of the 224 houses in the area, about 50 were completely destroyed, 130–140 were severely damaged, while the rest suffered partial damage. The revenue department, SDRF, and other teams must expedite debris clearance on priority,” Sharma said.
Accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar Naresh Singh, the deputy commissioner confirmed that 45 cattle were buried under the debris.
He added that six to seven locations in Marwah and Warwan were hit by cloudbursts, damaging roads and bridges. On his directions, connectivity was restored in the affected areas.
Authorities have been instructed to assess the loss of crops and fruit trees so that compensation can be provided to farmers. Sharma also directed the public health engineering department to restore damaged water pipelines and ensure safe drinking water supply for the families.
He assured residents that a technical team would soon visit the area to plan long-term protective measures. The deputy commissioner and the SSP stayed overnight in Warwan and later visited Nowapachi, where Sharma held a public meeting.
