Kishtwar, J&K: A day after a massive cloudburst struck the Mata Machail yatra route in Kishtwar, the death toll has climbed to 65, with officials warning that the number could rise further as many remain missing.
The cloudburst hit Chishoti village in Padder on Thursday, sweeping away pilgrims who were participating in the annual Shri Mata Machail yatra. Several homes and community kitchens (langars) were also destroyed in the flash floods. Eyewitnesses reported that nearly 200 people were present near one of the langars when it was washed away.
J&K Minister for Agricultural Production and Rural Development, Javid Ahmad Dar, confirmed that 65 bodies have been recovered so far.
“There is no definite number of the missing people so far, but the number of deaths is going up,” he said.
Officials noted that the biggest challenge is recovering bodies, as many have been buried under debris or swept several kilometres downstream. “It will take days to retrieve all the bodies,” one official said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has left for Kishtwar and is expected to visit the affected site in Chishoti on Saturday morning.
“I’ll be leaving for Kishtwar later this afternoon and will be going to the scene of the cloudburst tragedy early tomorrow morning to see, first hand, the extent of damage. I will review the rescue operation & assess what further help is required,” the CM’s office posted on X.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has kept helicopters on standby at its Udhampur base, but cloudy weather and rough terrain have hindered air operations. Relief and rescue teams continue to work on the ground, but officials admit conditions remain extremely difficult.
