Day 4 of Kishtwar Cloudburst : 80 Still Missing as Rescuers Race Against Time
Rescue efforts continue as 80 remain missing
The search operation for those missing after a deadly cloudburst struck the remote village of Chisoti in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district entered its fourth day on Sunday. Rescue teams remain hopeful of clearing a major impact site as efforts continue amid overcast skies.
The cloudburst, which occurred on August 14, has so far claimed 60 lives, left 80 people missing, and injured 167 others. Chisoti, the last motorable village en route to the revered Machail Mata shrine, bore the brunt of the flash floods triggered by the disaster, which demolished a makeshift market, a community kitchen (langar) site for the ongoing pilgrimage, 16 houses, several government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-metre bridge, and over a dozen vehicles.
Army engineers have commenced construction of a 17-metre bailey bridge to restore connectivity between the village and the Machail Mata shrine, aiming to facilitate smoother rescue and relief operations. The structure is expected to be completed by Sunday evening.
Also Read: Manish Tewari Backs Omar Abdullah’s Scathing Critique of Dual System
The joint search operation involves police, army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), civil administration, and local volunteers. Controlled explosions were conducted on Saturday to clear giant boulders obstructing access to the worst-hit areas.
To date, 50 bodies have been identified and handed over to families after completing necessary legal formalities.
Maj Gen A P S Bal, General Officer Commanding of the army’s Delta Force, said the military responded within 45 minutes of receiving the disaster alert and highlighted the ‘whole of nation’ approach to provide all forms of security and assistance to the victims.
Alongside rescue efforts, the teams have been providing essentials such as medicine and food to survivors.
The annual Machail Mata yatra, which started on July 25 and was scheduled to conclude on September 5, remains suspended for the fourth consecutive day. The 8.5-kilometer trek to the shrine at 9,500 feet altitude begins from Chisoti, located about 90 km from Kishtwar town.
The rescuers are deploying over a dozen earth-moving machines and heavy equipment, with NDRF’s dog squads aiding the search to expedite relief efforts.
Also Read: Farooq Abdullah: J&K Terror Attacks Not Tied to Statehood Loss!
