A devastating cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in at least 60 fatalities among pilgrims. Rescue operations are underway.
At least 60 people, most of them pilgrims, were killed in flash floods on the Machail Mata Yatra route at Chasoti village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday afternoon, chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Friday. More than 100 people are injured, he added.
Rescue teams fear the toll could rise as several people remain missing.
Most of the victims were pilgrims trekking to the Hindu shrine of Machail Mata, BS Tuti, the inspector general of police, Jammu, said. The number of casualties is likely to go up, he said.
The disaster hit Chasoti (also spelt Chisoti) — the last motorable point on the route to the 9,500-feet-high Machail Mata temple — between 12 and 1 pm, when hundreds of devotees had gathered for the annual yatra.
The final 8.5-km trek to the shrine begins from this village.
Over 160 people have been rescued so far, and the condition of 38 among them is said to be serious, while search and relief operations continue in difficult terrain amid heavy rains and debris. The body of one Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official has been recovered, and three others remain missing. They were deployed on a temporary internal security assignment for the yatra.
A ‘langar’ (community kitchen) set up for devotees bore the brunt of the cloudburst, which led to flash floods.
Union minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Kishtwar deputy commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma after being alerted by leader of opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly and local MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma.
“Massive cloud burst in Chositi area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site. Damage evaluation and necessary rescue and medical management arrangements are being made. My office is receiving regular updates, all possible assistance will be provided,” Jitendra Singh posted on X.
J&K CM Omar Abdullah reacts
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said he spoke to Union home minister Amit Shah and updated him about the situation.
“I just spoke to the Union Home Minister @AmitSha Sb to brief him about the developing situation in Kishtwar region of Jammu. The news is grim & accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloud burst is slow in arriving. All possible resources are being mobilised from within & beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations. I’m not going to be speaking to channels or news agencies. The government will share information as & when possible,” he posted on X.
Reacting to the incident, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said he has directed civil, police, army, NDRF and SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue and relief operations.
“Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families & prayers for quick recovery of injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF & SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected,” he posted on X.
The country is experiencing heavy monsoon rainfall, with hilly areas being the worst affected, especially in Uttarakhand. Cloudbursts, floods, and landslides have caused significant loss of life and property.
Earlier, roads were blocked in Nandprayag in Chamoli district due to a landslide following rainfall, days after the cloudburst in Uttarkashi, which left behind a trail of destruction
District magistrate of Chamoli district Sandeep Tiwari said work is going on to open the road blocked due to the landslide in Nandprayag due to rain.
He added that apart from this, all the roads in the district are smooth.
The bridge connecting Uttarkashi to Harsil has been reconstructed to facilitate easy movement of machinery and relief material in the aftermath of the cloudburst and flash floods that caused mass destruction in Dharali and Harsil of Uttarkashi district on August 5.
A massive mudslide struck Dharali village in the Kheer Gad area near Harsil, triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlements on August 5. The cloudburst led to flash floods in the high-altitude villages of Dharali. Several houses were reported to have been swept away.
Himachal flash floods: 396 roads closed, houses damaged
Cloudbursts and flash floods in several districts of Himachal Pradesh caused massive destruction, with 396 roads closed for traffic, houses damaged, vehicles washed away and some panchayats in Shimla cut off.
No loss of life has been reported, officials said on Thursday.
Since Wednesday night, Kandaghat has received 100 mm of rainfall, Jatton Barrage 87 mm, Una 85.4 mm, Solan 81.4 mm, Olinda 76 mm, Shillaroo 73 mm, Shimla 69 mm, Kufri 66 mm, Jubbarhatti 65.2 mm, Kasauli 62 mm, Kothi 61.2, Murrai Devi 51.8 and Dharampur 50.2 mm.
The local meteorological office has issued a ‘yellow’ alert, warning of heavy rain at isolated places in the state till August 20.
Cloudbursts and flash floods hit several places in Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts on Wednesday evening.
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