The death toll in the cloudburst incident rose to at least 36, including two civil forces personnel, and over 200 are missing in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar on Thursday, August 14. According to the Additional Director General of Police, SDRF, over 50 people were injured in flash flooding due to a cloudburst that hit Chashoti village.
The district administration of Chashoti issued a helpline and emergency numbers related to rescue operations. A rescue team, including SDRF, NDRF, and a medical group, brought at least 100 people to safety. According to reports, at least 50 people are still missing.
Chositi is a remote Himalayan village in Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. It is the last village accessible to motor vehicles on the annual pilgrimage route. The sudden deluge swept through the area, forcing authorities to suspend the annual pilgrimage to the Himalayan shrine of Mata Chandi. Chashoti, the last motorable village on the route, is now the focus of an extensive rescue operation involving local police, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and district officials.
Congress leader and leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi has expressed grief over the Kishtwar cloudburst deaths, urged the administration to speed up relief and rescue operations, and appealed to Congress workers to assist those in need.
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"The news of several deaths and many people missing due to the devastation caused by a cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely tragic," said Congress leader. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for a swift recovery.
"I urge the administration to expedite relief and rescue operations. I request Congress leaders and workers to cooperate with the administration and provide all possible assistance to those in need," Gandhi added.