Around 60 bodies have been recovered after a massive cloudburst hit Chishoti village in the Padder sub-division of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday, officials said, adding that the toll could rise. The incident occurred along the pilgrimage route of the annual Machail Mata Yatra.
Over 100 injured people have been rushed to the Atholi hospital, many of them have been referred to the District Hospital, Kishtwar.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also cancelled ‘At Home’ event to mark Independence Day along side other cultural events.
Union minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Kishtwar deputy commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma after being alerted by leader of opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly and local MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma.
“Massive cloud burst in Chositi area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site. Damage evaluation and necessary rescue and medical management arrangements are being made. My office is receiving regular updates, all possible assistance will be provided,” Singh posted on X.
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives. “Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families & prayers for quick recovery of injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF & SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected,” he wrote on X.
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Monsoon Rains Trigger Destruction in Himalayan States
The country is witnessing heavy monsoon rainfall, with hilly areas severely affected. In Uttarakhand, roads in Nandprayag, Chamoli district, were blocked due to a landslide following rainfall, days after a cloudburst in Uttarkashi caused massive destruction. District magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said efforts are underway to clear the blocked road, adding that other roads in the district are open.
The bridge connecting Uttarkashi to Harsil has been rebuilt to allow movement of machinery and relief materials after flash floods devastated Dharali and Harsil villages on August 5.
Himachal Pradesh has also been impacted by flash floods and cloudbursts in several districts, with 396 roads closed, houses damaged, and some areas in Shimla cut off. Since Wednesday night, heavy rainfall has been recorded in Kandaghat (100 mm), Jatton Barrage (87 mm), Una (85.4 mm), Solan (81.4 mm), and other parts of the state. The local meteorological office has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rain at isolated places till August 20.
