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The rescue operation entered its fifth day, with officials confirming that 61 people have so far lost their lives.
Kishtwar flash flood, cloudburst | Image: X
Rescue teams battling heavy rain and rough terrain continued their search on Monday for dozens still missing after last week’s devastating cloudburst in Chisoti village of Kishtwar district.
The operation entered its fifth day, with officials confirming that 61 people have so far lost their lives.
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Rescue personnel in raincoats were seen working at multiple sites, particularly around a langar (community kitchen) that was swept away in the flash floods.
Teams used heavy machinery, earth movers, and sniffer dogs to sift through debris as the downpour made conditions more difficult.
The disaster struck on August 14 when a cloudburst hit Chisoti, the last motorable point on the route to the Machail Mata shrine.
Among the victims were three CISF personnel and a Special Police Officer. More than 100 people were injured, and the latest revised figures put the number of missing at nearly 50.
The sudden floods left widespread destruction, flattening a makeshift market and langar site set up for pilgrims of the Machail Mata yatra.
Sixteen houses, several government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-metre bridge, and over a dozen vehicles were also damaged.
“Today is the fifth day of the operation, and combined efforts are underway to recover the mortal remains of the missing persons. The weather is challenging in view of the rain. We also have a warning (of heavy rains) for the day, but still we are trying our best,” said a CISF officer engaged in the mission.
The joint operation involves the police, Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), CISF, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), civil administration, and local volunteers.
To restore connectivity, Army engineers on Sunday constructed a Bailey bridge across the Chisoti nullah, a crucial link for villagers and pilgrims to the shrine.
All-terrain vehicles have also been pressed into service to support relief and rescue work.
Officials said controlled blasts were carried out over the past two days to clear massive boulders obstructing the search.
The Machail Mata yatra, which began on July 25 and was scheduled to run until September 5, remains suspended for the fifth consecutive day. The trek to the 9,500-foot-high shrine covers 8.5 km from Chisoti, nearly 90 km from Kishtwar town.
Over a dozen excavators and other heavy machines are currently being deployed, while the NDRF has mobilised dog squads and additional personnel to speed up recovery efforts.
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Jammu and Kashmir, India, India
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