The death toll in the cloudburst at Chashoti village in Kishtwar has reached 60, even as rescue teams, for the third day on Saturday, continued their search for missing persons believed to be trapped in the massive debris brought down by the flash flood. The toll may rise further, it is feared.
More than 100 injured persons have been admitted to different hospitals for treatment. As many as 67 injured have been shifted to the government medical college hospital here.
The district administration has released a list of 75 missing people. However, locals and eyewitnesses claim that hundreds may have been swept away by the flash flood and are likely buried under giant boulders, wooden logs, and rubble.
Most of the victims were Machaail Mata pilgrims, and a large number of them were from Jammu, Udhampur, and Akhnoor. Four among the missing are from Haryana.
Four jawans of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who were on security duty, were also washed away in the flood, a senior officer said.
The tragedy struck on 14 August around 12.15 pm when a flash flood carrying huge boulders, trees, debris, and muck swept through the village.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who visited the catastrophe-hit village last night, told reporters on Saturday that the death count stands at around 60, with 70 to 80 people still missing. Reports quoting missing figures around 500 or 1,000 are incorrect, he clarified.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who also visited the area, said 53 bodies had been recovered until last night. He said people claimed that about 1,500 to 2,000 devotees were at the community kitchen and in the village when the tragedy struck. While it is difficult to know the exact number of those washed away in the flash flood, efforts are being made to assess the loss.
As compared to the recent natural calamities in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the tragedy in J&K’s Chashoti was much bigger, he said.
The Chief Minister announced that the next of kin of those killed will be given financial support of Rs 2 lakh each, while those who sustained severe injuries would be given Rs 1 lakh and those with minor injuries Rs 50,000. Similarly, for structural damages, he announced Rs 1 lakh for fully damaged houses, Rs 50,000 for severely damaged ones, and Rs 25,000 for partially damaged structures.
He also issued directions for the immediate restoration of essential infrastructure in the affected areas. During his visit, the Chief Minister met the bereaved families and those affected by the tragedy, prayed for the departed souls, and assured the people that his government will extend not only immediate assistance but also long-term rehabilitation to help them rebuild their lives.
The Chief Minister said that hill states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are prone to cloudbursts, glacial lake outbursts, and flash floods, and the government will seek expert advice to develop elaborate preparedness and mitigation plans.
“We will inquire whether the administration could have taken any preventive steps when the Weather Department had issued a warning and also advised people not to venture out,” he said.
Omar Abdullah said rescue and relief operations are continuing with the Army, NDRF, SDRF, Police, and local administration on the ground.
Dr Jitendra Singh, who reached the devastated village late last night, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation.
He said the priority remains tracing the missing people. He described the incident as an unprecedented tragedy for the region.
Rescue efforts are hampered by difficult terrain and bad weather. Helicopters could not reach the spot and are stationed in Udhampur, waiting for clearance.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has brought in heavy equipment to clear debris and sludge.
At least 16 residential houses, government buildings, temples, water mills, a bridge, and several vehicles were destroyed in the flash floods.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha wrote on X, “Spoke to Senior Officials and took stock of the rescue and relief operations at Chashoti, Kishtwar. I will ensure the reconstruction of homes damaged in flash floods. I’ve also directed the senior officials for immediate relief & uninterrupted essential supplies to the affected.”