Kishtwar cloudburst: 46 dead; rescue teams intensify search for survivors

Injured persons being taken in an ambulance after flash floods triggered by cloudburst, in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir Pic/ PTI

Despite heavy rains, rescue and relief operations resumed early Friday after being paused overnight to search for survivors trapped under rubble and mud in the cloudburst-hit village in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said, reported PTI.

Several earth-moving machines deployed by the district administration have joined efforts to clear giant boulders, uprooted trees, and fallen electricity poles, aiming to accelerate rescue and relief operations, officials added.

The disaster struck Chositi, the last motorable village en route to Machail Mata temple, around 12:25 pm on Thursday, leaving 46 people dead, including two CISF personnel, reported PTI.

A large number of devotees had gathered there for the annual Machail Mata yatra, which began on July 25 and is scheduled to conclude on September 5. The 8.5 km trek to the 9,500-feet shrine starts from Chositi, about 90 km from Kishtwar town. The yatra remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Friday.

So far, 167 people have been rescued with injuries, while relatives report 69 individuals missing. Many more are believed to be trapped after the deluge flattened a makeshift market, a langar (community kitchen) site for the yatra, and a security outpost, reported PTI.

At least 16 residential houses and government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-metre bridge, and over a dozen vehicles were damaged in the flash floods in Chositi and downstream areas, officials said.

As reported by PTI, the rescue and relief operation, which was halted late Thursday night, resumed at first light despite continued rain, with police, army, NDRF, SDRF personnel, and local volunteers carefully searching through debris for survivors.

Videos captured torrents of muddy water, silt, and rubble rushing down the steep slopes, destroying everything in their path. Houses were crushed, rocks tumbled onto roads blocking access, and the mudslide turned the once-green landscape into a grim brown-grey terrain.

Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, along with Senior Superintendent of Police Kishtwar, Naresh Singh, are stationed on-site to supervise the multi-agency operation.

The death toll steadily rose throughout Thursday, and authorities fear it may increase further as rescue efforts continue, reported PTI.

The fragile Himalayan slopes faced disaster just nine days after flash floods wreaked havoc in Dharali village of Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district. Though only one person is confirmed dead, 68 people are still reported missing.

(Inputs from PTI)