Kishtwar Cloudburst: Death Toll Climbs to 63 as Rescue Efforts Persist
Kishtwar Cloudburst Claims 63 Lives
Rescue teams recovered two additional bodies from the debris of a devastating cloudburst in Chisoti village, Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday, raising the death toll to 63. The natural disaster, which struck on August 14, triggered flash floods that ravaged the remote village, a key stop on the route to the Machail Mata temple. Despite intermittent rains and challenging terrain, search operations continued for the fifth day, with teams battling to locate 39 missing individuals.
The latest recoveries included a woman’s body found in a gorge near Kukundra village and another near a temple, buried under rubble. The cloudburst, which hit at 12:25 PM on August 14, claimed lives including three Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and one Special Police Officer. Of the 167 people rescued, many sustained injuries, with 38 in serious condition. The revised missing persons list, updated Monday morning, now stands at 39, down from earlier estimates of up to 200.
Joint efforts by the Army’s White Knight Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), CISF, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and local volunteers are ongoing. The Army, deploying five relief columns and medical teams, completed a 17-meter Bailey bridge over Chisoti Nala on August 17, restoring vital connectivity. “Despite adverse terrain and weather, efforts have been intensified with additional equipment and senior Army functionaries overseeing operations,” the White Knight Corps posted on X.
Also Read: Kishtwar Cloudburst: Rescue Efforts Persist on Fifth Day Amid Heavy Rains
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the deployment of 10 senior IAS and IPS officers to supervise operations in Chisoti over the next eight days, with two officers assigned daily. The flash floods obliterated a makeshift market, a langar site for the Machail Mata Yatra, 16 houses, government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-meter bridge, and over a dozen vehicles. Controlled explosions were used to clear massive boulders blocking rescue paths.
The annual Machail Mata Yatra, a pilgrimage from Chisoti to the 9,500-foot-high shrine, remains suspended for the fifth day, though authorities permitted a group of devotees carrying the ceremonial ‘Charri’ from Jammu to proceed. Over a dozen earth-movers and NDRF dog squads are aiding the search, despite weather warnings of heavy rains. A CISF officer noted, “The weather is challenging, but we are trying our best.”
The disaster underscores the Himalayan region’s vulnerability, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah highlighting the need for expert consultation to mitigate risks from cloudbursts and glacial lake outbursts. Control rooms in Padder, 15 km from Chisoti, continue to assist stranded pilgrims and families, as the region grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy.
