As many as 46 people, including two CISF jawans, were killed as a massive cloudburst hit a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday. Over 220 people are still missing as rescue efforts have been intensified.
The disaster struck at Chasoti, the last motorable village on the route to the Machail Mata temple, between noon and 1 pm. At that time, many people had gathered there for the annual ‘yatra’. From Chasoti, pilgrims usually begin an 8.5-km trek to the shrine.
Officials said 46 bodies have been recovered so far, but the toll could rise. Chasoti is located at an altitude of 9,500 feet, about 90 km from Kishtwar. A community kitchen (langar) set up for devotees took the worst hit, as the cloudburst triggered a flash flood. Several houses in the foothills were also damaged.
The annual yatra to Machail Mata shrine has been suspended after the tragedy. Authorities have sent all available resources to the spot for a large-scale rescue and relief operation. Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Udhampur were also on their way.
Meanwhile, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the incident, offering condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for the injured.
"Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families and 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 shared on X. Officials warned that rescue, relief and recovery efforts in the remote area could take up to 20 days.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed concern over the incident on X, “The local administration is conducting relief and rescue operations. NDRF teams have been rushed to the site. We are closely monitoring the situation and stand firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir through every situation,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Sharma on his way to the site, said, “Massive rescue operations have been started in the area.”
Control room, help desk set up
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up a control room-cum-help desk to help locals and pilgrims after flash floods triggered by a cloudburst hit a village in Kishtwar. The control room is located in Paddar, around 15 km from Chositi village, where the disaster occurred. Five officials have been assigned to for the control room.
Helpline numbers for the control room are: 9858223125, 6006701934, 9797504078, 8492886895, 8493801381, 7006463710.
The district control room can be reached at 01995-259555 and 9484217492, while the police control room number for Kishtwar is 9906154100.
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