Decade’s biggest natural disaster; CM’s ‘At Home’, cultural events on I-Day cancelled
Jammu, Aug 14: In the biggest natural disaster to hit Jammu and Kashmir in last decade, a massive cloudburst led to flashfloods in a remote mountain village enroute the Machail Mata Temple in Kishtwar district on Thursday, killing at least 50 people—majorly pilgrims, including two CISF personnel, and trapping many more.
As night fell over Chositi village, rescuers worked frantically and pulled out 167 people from under mounds of rubble. Of these, 38 are in a serious condition, officials said. The death toll went up steadily as the day progressed and there were fears it could rise further.
Sources informed The Earth News that the toll is feared to rise higher than what has been officially reported as the authorities are confirming numbers only after recovery of bodies and their proper identification.
“There is a large number of people—around 150-200– who are still missing, and buried under the rubble,” they said.
The disaster struck Chositi, the last motorable village on the way to Machail Mata temple, between 12 noon and 1 pm. A large number of people had gathered there for the annual Machail Mata yatra that began on July 25 and is scheduled to end on September 5. The 8.5 kilometre trek to the 9,500-feet shrine begins from Chositi, which is about 90 kilometres from Kishtwar town.
A ‘langar’ (community kitchen) packed with devotees bore the brunt of the cloudburst, which led to flash floods and washed away several structures, including shops and a security outpost.
“The disaster washed away at least 10 houses, four temples, four government offices, and a bridge that was crowded with pilgrims,” the sources on the ground told The Earth News.
Videos showed torrents of muddy water, silt and rubble tearing through the steep slopes, destroying everything in the way. Houses folded over like pack of cards, rocks came tumbling down, blocking roads and rescue paths, the mudslide turning the verdant landscape to a grim brown-grey.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent their condolences and said the situation was being monitored carefully.
Immediately after news came in of the disaster, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma and senior officials mobilised rescue teams and headed towards the spot to personally supervise the operations.
The ‘At Home’ tea party hosted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Independence Day on Friday evening, along with the cultural events during Independence Day celebrations across Jammu and Kashmir have been cancelled, the CM informed.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration set up a control room-cum-help desk to assist people and pilgrims following flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in a village in Kishtwar.
Five officials have been put on duty for the control room. The numbers provided are: 9858223125, 6006701934, 9797504078, 8492886895, 8493801381, and 7006463710.
Besides these, the district control room numbers are 01995-259555 and 9484217492, and the police control room number of Kishtwar is 9906154100.
A large-scale rescue operation was launched by NDRF, SDRF, police, Army and local volunteers, the authorities have mobilised more rescuers, including two fresh teams of NDRF from Jammu to speed up the rescue efforts, officials said.
Army’s White Knight Corps said efforts are on to safeguard lives and aid the survivors.
“In the aftermath of a cloudburst at Chisoti (Chositi) village, Kishtwar, troops of White Knight Corps swiftly mobilised for rescue and relief ops (operations). Efforts are centred on safeguarding lives and aiding survivors. Search for missing continues. Relief stores, medical teams and rescue gear rushed to site. We Serve, We Protect,” the corps said in an X post.
Union minister Jitendra Singh was among the first to indicate the magnitude of the tragedy.
“A massive cloudburst in Chositi area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site,” Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in an X post.
The annual yatra to the Machail Mata shrine was suspended following the tragedy as authorities mobilised all resources for rescue operations at Chositi.
Officials added that the flash floods hit several houses clustered together in the foothills.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his anguish.
“Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families and prayers for quick recovery of the injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF and SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue and relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected,” he said on X.
The Lieutenant Governor, who is constantly monitoring the situation, said that the Rescue & Relief Operations at Chashoti were going on in full swing, adding that men and machinery have been put at the site while other teams have also been rushed.
He also briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on rescue & relief Ops by various agencies.
“I want to assure all the affected families that Govt stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of crisis. Air Force has also been alerted for evacuation. I am constantly monitoring the situation,” the LG said.
The chief minister cancelled ‘At Home’ tea party and cultural events during Independence Day celebrations on Friday following the loss of lives.
“We have also decided not to go ahead with the cultural events during the morning Independence Day celebrations. The formal events – speech, march past etc will go ahead as planned,” the chief minister said in a post on X.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma said he had received information from his workers that a massive cloudburst has occurred. “At the moment, I don’t think anyone has exact figures but I believe there could be significant damage in the area,” he said, adding that there were a lot of people gathered for the yatra.
Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also expressed grief over the incident.
“Deeply saddened by the cloudburst in Chositi, Kishtwar. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Urge the govt to immediately carry out rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance and treatment for those affected,” he said in a post on X.
