J&K cloudburst deaths cross 60, hundreds still missing as rescue ops intensify

Even as intensive rescue efforts continued for a second day, the number of fatalities from the catastrophic cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, increased to 65 on Friday. Flash floods on the Machail Mata Yatra path to the Himalayan temple of Mata Chandi have left hundreds of pilgrims missing, with many believed to be buried beneath the wreckage.

Thirty-eight of the 167 persons who have been rescued so far are reportedly in serious condition. After the flood destroyed a security outpost, a makeshift market, and a langar (community cooking) location for the yatra, many more people are thought to be trapped.

Following a severe cloudburst, Javed Dar, the minister of Jammu and Kashmir, announced on Friday that at least 65 bodies had been found, while other individuals were still unaccounted for. He pointed out that it is yet unknown how many people are missing. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to visit the impacted area this afternoon, he added. “Rescue teams have been working at the site since last night,” he said.

Authorities worry that as rescue and search efforts continue, the number of casualties could increase because so many people, primarily devotees, have congregated in Chositi for the yearly Machail Mata Yatra. Suni Sharma, a BJP leader, reported that there were about 1,200 persons at the location.

The sudden floods in Chositi and downstream destroyed at least 16 private homes and government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-meter-span bridge, and over a dozen cars, in addition to the temporary camps and stores erected for the Yatra.

The district government has canceled Kishtwar’s Independence Day celebrations due to the tragedy. The Deputy Commissioner directed that there be no cultural activities or tea parties at homes during the ceremony, just the raising of the flag and the playing of the national song.

According to officials, 21 of the 65 remains that have been recovered so far have been identified by their relatives, and the remaining bodies are still being identified. On Friday, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team arrived in the area affected by the cloudburst, and two additional teams are its route. According to them, the Army has also added a column to bolster the search and rescue effort. Troops from the Rashtriya Rifles have joined the operation.

Due to the lack of contact and connectivity outside the catastrophe site, the precise number of trapped individuals is still unknown. Due to a power outage, hundreds of people are stuck in the two villages before the cloudburst-hit belt, their cell phones dead.

Due to the current weather, the J&K Police have put the entire area on high alert, with specialized squads on standby to handle any emergencies. Control rooms and support stations have been set up around the district in collaboration with the district government to aid residents and pilgrims, especially in isolated and vulnerable locations.