Kalash Nath
Days after the devastating Chasoti cloudburst, the scene remains grim and haunting, with shattered homes and scarred landscapes testifying to the massive destruction. Grief-stricken families, weary rescuers, and the lingering stench of devastation paint a heart-wrenching and chaotic picture of the aftermath.
On the afternoon of August 14, 2025, a sudden cloudburst struck Chasoti Village in Block Paddar of District Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, triggering massive flash floods and landslides. The intense downpour washed away lives, homes, and vital infrastructure within minutes, leaving the region in ruins.
According to official records, 69 bodies have been recovered so far. Several remain missing, and many others are injured. The toll is feared to rise further as search and rescue operations continue in the difficult terrain.
The district civil and police administration, in coordination with locals, NGOs, the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, and allied agencies, immediately launched a large-scale rescue operation. Despite hostile conditions, rescue teams have been working round the clock, often risking their own lives to evacuate survivors, retrieve bodies, and provide relief.
One of the most severe setbacks was the washing away of the nearly completed Chasoti Bridge, a crucial link on the Machail Road. This loss temporarily cut off the affected area, complicating relief efforts. However, the Indian Army, in a remarkable feat of determination, constructed a temporary bailey bridge within five days, restoring essential connectivity for relief teams and residents.
On the day of the disaster, as soon as the news reached district headquarters, Hon’ble LOP/MLA Paddar-Nagseni Sh. Sunil Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Sh. Pankaj Kumar Sharma (JKAS), and SSP Naresh Singh (JKPS) rushed to the site. They have remained stationed in Chasoti for the past seven days, personally supervising rescue and relief operations.
The following day, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Sh. Ramesh Kumar (IAS) and DIG DKR Sh. Shridhar Patil (IPS) visited the site. Notably, DIG DKR has remained stationed in Paddar for the past seven days, overseeing ground-level efforts.
Under the directions of the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, the ground-level situation has been closely monitored.
Senior IAS and IPS officers visited the affected areas as per a pre-decided roster, ensuring continued administrative oversight and coordination of relief efforts.
Among the key figures in the crisis response was the silent worker, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Paddar, Dr. Amit Kumar (JKAS), whose swift action and calm leadership proved critical in the initial hours of the disaster.
Despite extremely limited access and collapsing infrastructure, the SDM mobilized local resources, established communication links between agencies, and coordinated the first line of rescue with the help of village volunteers and disaster response teams. His presence at the epicenter of the tragedy not only ensured administrative control but also reassured terrified villagers-many of whom had lost everything.
The SDRF was the first to begin operations, braving debris-filled terrain to evacuate the injured and recover the deceased. Soon after, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was deployed with specialized dog squads, significantly strengthening the ongoing search for those buried under rubble and mud.
Amid the chaos, local villagers and NGOs-including Sewa Bharti, Ababeel, and others-emerged as true first responders: guiding rescue teams, offering shelter, distributing food, and standing beside grieving families. The Health Department, assisted by volunteers, has been delivering urgent medical aid, medicines, and psychological support to both survivors and affected families.
The role of bikers during this natural disaster cannot be overlooked, as they were among the first responders-bravely rescuing people and transporting patients to hospitals when every second counted.
To ensure better coordination, 24×7 control rooms were established at the District Headquarters in Kishtwar and the Sub-Divisional Headquarters in Paddar, serving as command centers for rescue coordination, public information, and logistics.
As of today, the focus remains on retrieving missing persons and providing immediate relief to victims.
The next-and more challenging-phase will be the resettlement and rehabilitation of affected families, which will require close coordination between the district administration, the UT Government, and supporting agencies.
Beyond material loss, the psychological impact on survivors is immense. Providing emotional support, counseling, and a sense of security is now as crucial as rebuilding homes and infrastructure.
The administration has emphasized the need for mutual trust, confidence-building measures, and active participation of locals and NGOs in the recovery process.
The district administration, with full support from the UT Government, is leaving no stone unturned-from retrieving the last missing person to ensuring food, shelter, safety, and long-term rehabilitation.
This tragedy, while catastrophic, has also become a testament to resilience, collective efforts, and the unwavering commitment of the administration, armed forces, and citizens in the face of nature’s fury.
(The writer is Master in Journalism and Mass Communication and Master in History presently working with Prasar Bharti)