Amid overcast conditions, the search operation to locate those missing after the cloudburst in Kishtwar district’s remote Chisoti village entered its fourth day on Sunday. Officials said rescuers were hopeful of clearing a major impact site during the day. (Pics/ PTI)
Updated On: 2025-08-17 01:57 PM IST
Compiled by : Anushree Gaikwad
At the same time, Army engineers have begun work on a bailey bridge to restore connectivity to the affected village and the Machail Mata shrine, with the aim of boosting the pace of rescue operations
The devastating cloudburst struck Chisoti, the last motorable village on the route to the Machail Mata temple, on August 14. The tragedy claimed 60 lives, left 80 people missing, and injured 167 others who were rescued
The flash floods unleashed by the cloudburst caused large-scale destruction. A makeshift market and a community kitchen (langar) site for the yatra were washed away. Sixteen houses, government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-metre bridge, and more than a dozen vehicles were also damaged
Officials confirmed that joint teams comprising the police, Army, NDRF, SDRF, BRO, civil administration, and local volunteers are continuing rescue operations around the clock. So far, 50 bodies have been identified and handed over to their families after completing the necessary legal formalities
General Officer Commanding of the Army’s counter-insurgency Delta Force, Maj Gen A P S Bal, said Army engineers surveyed the area after recognising the need for a new bridge. “We need a 17-metre bridge which will be installed to facilitate smooth movement across the river,” the officer said, adding that the structure would be completed by Sunday evening
He further explained that the Army had swung into action within 45 minutes of receiving the first information about the disaster. He added that all security forces deployed were working tirelessly to assist the people in every possible way
Meanwhile, the annual Machail Mata yatra, which began on July 25 and was scheduled to conclude on September 5, remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday. The 8.5-kilometre trek to the shrine, situated at an altitude of 9,500 feet, begins from Chisoti, located nearly 90 km from Kishtwar town
Rescuers are making use of over a dozen earthmovers and heavy machinery. The NDRF has also mobilised its resources, including dog squads, to accelerate the search and rescue efforts
