At least 30 dead, 200 missing after cloudburst in Kishtwar’s Chosoti; rescue ops ongoing amid heavy rain, blocked roads, and widespread destruction.
Rescue teams navigate debris and floods after a massive cloudburst in Kishtwar’s Chosoti kills 30, leaves over 200 missing, and devastates the region.
KISHTWAR: The scale of devastation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district deepened on Thursday as official sources confirmed that at least 30 people, including two CISF jawans, have lost their lives in the massive cloudburst that struck Chosoti village on the Machail Mata Yatra route. More than 200 people remain missing, while rescue teams battle treacherous weather and terrain to locate survivors.
The cloudburst triggered flash floods, sweeping away houses, roads, and bridges in the remote Paddar region. Large swathes of the last motorable settlement before the shrine now lie buried under debris, with authorities describing the destruction as “widespread and severe.”
Officials said 100 people have been injured, including 37 who are in critical condition and have been shifted to District Hospital Kishtwar. Around 70 to 80 others are being treated at the Sub-District Hospital in Paddar, with additional medical teams mobilised from neighbouring districts.
Following the tragedy, the annual Machail Mata Yatra has been suspended. The Civil Administration, Army, NDRF, SDRF, and security forces have been pressed into service to speed up rescue and relief operations. Heavy machinery is being used to clear access routes, while aerial reconnaissance is underway to identify stranded groups in cut-off hamlets.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives, directing officials to ensure “all possible assistance” to the affected families. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the recovery of the injured,” he said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that central agencies are actively assisting local authorities. “Rescue teams are on the ground, and every possible effort is being made to trace the missing,” he stated.
Officials warn that the casualty count may rise as many villages remain inaccessible due to damaged roads and continuous rainfall hampering relief efforts. Rescue teams are working round-the-clock, prioritising the evacuation of critically injured and vulnerable individuals from the disaster zone.
