46 Dead After Massive Cloudburst in J&K’s Kishtwar

A severe cloudburst occurred on Thursday afternoon in Chasoti village of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir. The subsequent floodwaters caused significant havoc, with 46 people reported dead so far, and more than 100 injured. There are fears that the death toll may rise further. The injured are being treated at Atholi Sub-District Hospital and nearby medical centers.

The administration has set up a control room and assistance center for pilgrims at Paddar, appointing five officers for this purpose. Since Chashoti is the last village on the way to the Mata temple, thousands of devotees were present here. Between 12 to 1 in the afternoon, while the pilgrims were preparing for an 8.5 km walk towards the temple, many were swept away by the water.

After the incident, NDRF, SDRF, police, and military forces arrived at the scene. Relief and rescue operations are underway at a war footing, and many villages have been devastated by the floodwaters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the incident and paid tribute to the deceased. Considering the weather warning and difficult terrain, rescue teams are continuously striving. Local citizens, voluntary organizations, and the administration are working together to provide food, water, and medical facilities in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy rain in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir in the next few hours, stating that the risk of cloudbursts, sudden floods, and landslides remains. The administration has estimated that rescue operations may take at least 20 days.