The cloudburst in Kishtwar’s Chositi village has led to at least 30 fatalities and multiple missing persons amid ongoing heavy rain across the region. At least 37 people, most of them pilgrims, were killed in a massive cloudburst on the Machail Mata Yatra route at Chositi village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday afternoon. More than 100 people are injured, deputy commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma said.
Rescue teams fear the toll could rise as several people remain missing.
Most of the victims were pilgrims trekking to the Hindu shrine of Machail Mata, BS Tuti, the inspector general of police, Jammu, said. The number of casualties is likely to go up, he too said. The disaster hit Chositi — the last motorable point on the route to the 9,500-feet-high Machail Mata temple — between 12 and 1 pm, when hundreds of devotees had gathered for the annual yatra.
The final 8.5-km trek to the shrine begins from the village.
Officials said 65 people were rescued, while search and relief operations continue in difficult terrain amid heavy rains and debris. The body of one Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official has been recovered, and three others remain missing. They were deployed on a temporary internal security assignment for the yatra. A ‘langar’ (community kitchen) set up for devotees bore the brunt of the cloudburst, which led to flash floods.
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,” Jitendra Singh posted on X.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said he spoke to Union home minister Amit Shah and updated him about the situation. “I just spoke to the Union Home Minister @AmitSha Sb to brief him about the developing situation in Kishtwar region of Jammu. The news is grim & accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloud burst is slow in arriving. All possible resources are being mobilised from within & beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations. I’m not going to be speaking to channels or news agencies. The government will share information as & when possible,” he posted on X.
Reacting to the incident, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said he has directed civil, police, army, NDRF and SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue and relief operations. “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 posted on X.
The country is experiencing heavy monsoon rainfall, with hilly areas being the worst affected, especially in Uttarakhand. Cloudbursts, floods, and landslides have caused significant loss of life and property. Earlier, roads were blocked in Nandprayag in Chamoli district due to a landslide following rainfall, days after the cloudburst in Uttarkashi, which left behind a trail of destruction.
