Distraught families count the dead as hope fades for those missing after Kishtwar cloudburst

With at least 88 people still trapped under the debris after the catastrophic cloudburst in Chisoti village of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir recently, distressed families remain camped in the devastated village, holding on desperately to the faintest chance of a miracle.

The rescue teams of the Army, NDRF, CISF, SDRF and J&K Police are continuing their operations for the last five days as anxious relatives wait in the village for some good news about their loved ones.

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Those killed in the cloudburst were mostly pilgrims to the Machail Mata shrine. They had come to pay obeisance from Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi districts. The annual Machail Mata yatra began on 25 July and will conclude on 5 September.

The rescue teams have so far found 62 bodies, while 88 more are untraceable. The loose mud and boulders that are spread across the village are making the rescue operations challenging.

The White Knight Corps of the Indian Army said on Monday that five columns have been deployed for rescue and relief operations. Efforts have been further intensified with additional medical teams deployed.

Despite adverse terrain and weather, a bridge over Chisoti stream has been completed, expediting relief and evacuation. Additional equipment is being moved forward to strengthen operations and senior Army functionaries are on the ground to oversee relief and rescue.
The Army was maintaining close coordination with civil agencies to expedite relief efforts.

J&K UT’s Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra, who visited the devastated village yesterday, asked the party cadres to remain actively associated with the relief and rescue measures and also render all possible assistance to the suffering people.

Karra urged the Centre to come forward to help and rehabilitate the affected population by announcing a special relief and rehabilitation package for the area. He said that, in view of the huge devastation and a lot of casualties, the Centre should come forward for special help.
Leader of opposition in the Assembly, Sunil Sharma, said that two bodies were recovered today. Families and friends have reported 88 people missing. The death count would further increase when more bodies are recovered, he said.

About a dozen JCB machines and other equipment has been deployed to remove the huge boulders and recover bodies of the missing people.
The Lt. Governor has deputed eight senior IAS and IPS officers to supervise the rescue and relief operations in the cloudburst-hit village.
Meanwhile, the authorities have shut all government and private schools across the Jammu division in view of the bad weather alert for 19 August.

The authorities have halted the recharge of the main Ravi Canal in the Kathua district in view of damage caused due to the flash-flood triggered by cloudburst at Jodh Ghatti yesterday.