Jammu, August 14 (Kiran News) — At least 40 people, including two CISF personnel, have lost their lives after a devastating cloudburst struck a remote mountain village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday afternoon. Officials said nearly 200 people are reported missing, while the death toll is feared to rise as more people may still be trapped under debris. So far, 120 people have been rescued, with 38 of them in critical condition.
Disaster Strikes Chishoti Village
Authorities informed that the disaster occurred between 12 noon and 1 pm in Chishoti, the last village on the route to the Machail Mata temple. The annual Machail Mata pilgrimage, which began on July 25, was scheduled to conclude on September 5. A large number of devotees had gathered in the area for the yatra. The temple, situated at an altitude of 9,500 feet, is reached via an 8.5-kilometre trek starting from Chishoti, located about 90 km from Kishtwar town. The sudden cloudburst near a community kitchen set up for pilgrims triggered flash floods, sweeping away several shops and a security post.
Swift Rescue Operations
Immediately after the disaster, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, along with the Senior Superintendent of Police, rushed to the site to oversee rescue operations. Two additional teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were dispatched from Udhampur to speed up the efforts. NDRF, SDRF, police, army personnel, and local volunteers launched large-scale rescue work to save lives and locate those missing. The Army’s White Knight Corps stated that its soldiers quickly mobilised to assist survivors and continue search operations. Relief materials, medical teams, and rescue equipment have reached the affected area.
Official Reactions
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in a social media post that he had spoken to the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar regarding the incident. He confirmed that two NDRF teams had been sent from Udhampur and that large-scale rescue operations were underway. Officials reported that the sudden floods swept away several houses in the hilly area.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. He directed civil, police, army, NDRF, and SDRF officials to strengthen relief and rescue operations and provide all possible assistance to those affected.
Leader of the Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma said he had received reports from his workers about the large-scale damage caused by the cloudburst. While exact figures were yet to be confirmed, he feared significant losses in the area, noting that many people had gathered there for the pilgrimage.
Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also expressed deep sorrow over the incident and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, urging the government to immediately launch relief and rescue operations and ensure all possible help and treatment for those affected.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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