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The furious-looking Chenab is still roaring after the flash flood as flames from funeral pyres rise high and tears roll down the cheeks of family members
While civilian volunteer groups, the NDRF, the Army, and other paramilitary forces have arrived at the scene, it will be a mammoth task for all of them to remove the debris. The sheer size of the debris looks challenging. Image/News18
Around noon on Thursday, a deafening noise rattled the pilgrims and locals in the remote village of Chashoti, located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.
Hundreds of devotees had gathered along the final motorable stretch of road leading to the Machail Mata temple. They were assembled at a community kitchen—known as a langar—for meals, with bhajans playing loudly in the background.
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A large number of people had gathered there for the annual Machail Mata yatra, which commenced on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5.
Many other devotees were crossing a steel footbridge spanning a small stream that cascaded down from the mountain, completely unaware of the disaster about to strike.
A few minutes after the initial boom, chaos erupted. Sudden crashes and piercing screams filled the air.
“It just happened in seconds, and everyone disappeared. There were screams everywhere. People were buried under the debris, and death was instantly vivid,” said a policeman who witnessed the event unfold.
A witness told News18 that many people were buried under the rubble, though quick rescue attempts saved some lives.
The community kitchen, where most people were eating, came crashing down instantly on those who had gathered inside. The scene in the kitchen is now grim: bags of pulses and rice lie scattered, often trampled under the boots of security forces who are hurrying to remove debris in order to search for survivors.
“People were also crossing the footbridge in large numbers when it was swept away. We believe many were washed away in the Chenab River,” said an officer.
Nets have now been installed in the Chenab River to prevent bodies from being swept away by the strong current.
“We received the headless body of a female. People are still coming to register reports of their loved ones who are missing,” an official said.
A worker at an eatery who walked out just 15 seconds before the flash flood hit said he was extremely lucky to survive. Seven bodies were recovered from his shop.
“It’s a miracle. I stepped out to get water for just 15 seconds, and it all changed. Had I been inside, I probably would have been the eighth dead,” he told News18 while walking near the rubble.
Massive boulders, rocks, and pine trees have completely changed the landscape. What was once a parking area now looks like a mountain.
Ten residential houses, six government buildings, three temples, four water mills, two cattle sheds, and a 30 m span bridge in the Chashoti area and downstream were washed away or damaged in the flash flood. Over a dozen vehicles have also been damaged or washed away in the flash flood.
The government has deployed bulldozers to remove the debris, and a counter has been set up for those searching for their loved ones.
Near the banks of the Chenab River, families of five locals cremated their loved ones. The furious-looking Chenab is still roaring as flames rise high and tears roll down the cheeks of family members, while villagers try to console them.
While civilian volunteer groups, the NDRF, the Army, and other paramilitary forces have arrived at the scene, it will be a mammoth task for all of them to remove the debris. The sheer size of the debris looks challenging.
The road to the location is narrow, and helicopters haven’t been able to reach it due to bad weather conditions.
Pilgrims who were stranded on the other side of the stream, as well as those en route to the pilgrimage site, have been safely evacuated after a small wooden log bridge was constructed.
Sunil Kumar Sharma, the leader of the opposition in the assembly and a local legislator, told News18 that he fears several hundred people are still missing or untraceable, while the bodies of identified victims have been sent to their respective destinations.
About the Author
Ieshan Wani, senior correspondent, CNN-News18, has over eight years of experience in reporting, producing and editing news for broadcast, digital and print platforms. His reporting has mostly been from Kashmir….Read More
Ieshan Wani, senior correspondent, CNN-News18, has over eight years of experience in reporting, producing and editing news for broadcast, digital and print platforms. His reporting has mostly been from Kashmir…. Read More
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Kishtwar, India, India
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