Cloudburst hits Kishtwar’s Chositi on Machail Mata Yatra route46 dead, 167 rescued so far

Murmu, Modi, Dr Jitendra, Sinha, Kavinder, Azad express grief

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: A massive cloudburst struck a remote mountain village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday, killing at least 46 people including two CISF personnel, officials said.

The death toll could go up as more people are believed to be trapped, officials said, adding that 167 people have been rescued so far. Of these, the condition of 38 is said to be serious.
The disaster struck Chositi, the last motorable village en route to Machail Mata temple, between 12 noon and 1 pm. A large number of people had gathered there for the annual Machail Mata yatra, which commenced on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5. The 8.5 kilometre trek to the 9,500-feet-high shrine begins from Chositi.
Chositi is about 90 kilometres from Kishtwar town. A ‘langar’ (community kitchen) set up for the devotees here bore the brunt of the cloudburst, which led to flash floods and washed away several structures including shops and a security outpost.
President Droupadi Murmu said the loss of lives due to a cloudburst is extremely tragic and prayed for the success of relief and rescue operations.
“The news of several deaths due to a cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely tragic. I express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and pray for the success of relief and rescue operations,” Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst in Kishtwar district and asserted that every possible assistance will be provided to those in need.
In a post on X, Modi said, “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The situation is being monitored closely. Rescue and relief operations are underway.”
“Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need,” the prime minister said.
Lt Gov Manoj Sinha condoled the loss of lives in the incident.
“Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families and prayers for quick recovery of the injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF and SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue and relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected,” he said on X.
The Lieutenant Governor said that rescue and relief operation is in full swing at the cloudburst-hit Chositi village and asserted that Home Minister Amit Shah has assured all possible assistance.
“Rescue & Relief Operations at Chashoti (Chositi) are in full swing. Men and machinery have been put at the site. Other teams have also been rushed,” the L-G said in an X post.
The L-G said he briefed the home minister on rescue and relief operations by various agencies.
“He (home minister) has assured all possible assistance,” Sinha said.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, has also expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. He also prayed to the Almighty for the safety and well-being of all residents in the affected areas.
“Words cannot lessen the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones in this calamity. My prayers and thoughts are with them in this hour of profound sorrow. I also commend the tireless efforts of the rescue and relief teams working in difficult conditions to save lives,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Immediately after the calamity struck Chositi on Thursday, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, along with the senior superintendent of police, mobilised rescue teams and headed towards the spot to personally supervise the operations.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up a control room-cum-help desk to assist people and pilgrims following flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in a village in Kishtwar.
Five officials have been put on duty for the control room. The numbers provided are: 9858223125, 6006701934, 9797504078, 8492886895, 8493801381, and 7006463710.
Besides these, the district control room numbers are 01995-259555 and 9484217492, and the police control room number of Kishtwar is 9906154100.
While a large-scale rescue operation was already launched by NDRF, SDRF, police, Army and local volunteers, the authorities have mobilised more rescuers, including two fresh teams of NDRF from Jammu to to speed up the rescue efforts, officials said.
Army’s White Knight Corps said efforts are on to safeguard lives and aid the survivors.
“In the aftermath of a cloudburst at Chisoti (Chositi) village, Kishtwar, troops of White Knight Corps swiftly mobilised for rescue and relief ops (operations). Efforts are centred on safeguarding lives and aiding survivors. Search for missing continues. Relief stores, medical teams and rescue gear rushed to site. We Serve, We Protect,” the corps said in an X post.
Officials said the langar was packed with devotees when the calamity struck.
“A massive cloudburst in Chositi area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site,” Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in an X post. The minister said he also spoke to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner on the matter.
The Army has joined the relief and rescue operation at the cloudburst-hit Chisoti village.
“In the aftermath of a cloudburst at the Chisoti village in Kishtwar, troops of the White Knight swiftly mobilised for relief and rescue operations,” a Jammu-based PRO said.
The efforts are centred on safeguarding lives and aiding survivors, he said, adding that the search for the missing continues.
The Army said that relief stores, medical teams and rescue gear have been rushed to the site.
The annual yatra to the Machail Mata shrine was suspended following the tragedy as the authorities mobilised all resources for rescue operations at Chositi, officials said.
Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been rushed from Udhampur to Kishtwar.
“Massive rescue operations have been started in the area,” said the deputy commissioner, who was on way to the spot.
Officials added that the flash floods hit several houses clustered together in the foothills.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma said he had received information from his workers that a massive cloudburst has occurred. “At the moment, I don’t think anyone has exact figures but I believe there could be significant damage in the area,” he said, adding that there were a lot of people gathered for the yatra.
Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also expressed grief over the incident.
“Deeply saddened by the cloudburst in Chositi, Kishtwar. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Urge the govt to immediately carry out rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance and treatment for those affected,” he said in a post on X.
BJP leader Jehanzaib Sirwal, while extending his deepest condolences to the affected people, said the heart-breaking incident underscores a broader concern that cannot be ignored –the unchecked proliferation of power projects in Kishtwar.
“While development is essential, the ongoing projects, pursued without rigorous mechanisms or proper environmental assessments, pose a grave threat to our fragile ecosystem,” Sirwal said, urging the Centre to institute immediate and thorough checks on these initiatives.
“If robust measures are not implemented even now, the consequences for Kishtwar and its people could be even more catastrophic in the years ahead,” he said.