Kishtwar: Heavy casualties are feared after a massive cloudburst triggered a flash flood in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chashoti area on Wednesday afternoon, sweeping away parts of the pilgrimage route and forcing the suspension of the annual Machail Mata Yatra.
At least 10 people are feared dead, though the official toll is yet to be confirmed. Chashoti, the starting point of the pilgrimage to the Himalayan shrine of Mata Chandi in Kishtwar district, is also the last motorable village before the trek begins.
Visuals from the scene showed panicked pilgrims being evacuated from rising waters as rescue teams battled difficult conditions.
Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed, with more reinforcements expected. The district administration has mobilised police, army, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel for the rescue.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who represents the Udhampur constituency, said he was informed about the cloudburst by Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly and local MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his grief over the incident. “Anguished by cloudburst in Chashoti Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families and prayers for quick recovery of 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,” Sinha said.
Heavy Rains Batter Northern States
The disaster comes amid days of intense rainfall across North India, which has triggered floods, landslides, and disruptions in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple red and orange alerts in the past week, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the Himalayan region. Himachal Pradesh has already reported several cloudburst incidents this monsoon, while swollen rivers in Uttarakhand have forced authorities to halt the annual Char Dham Yatra on multiple occasions for safety reasons.
In Jammu and Kashmir, parts of the Chenab Valley and higher reaches of the Pir Panjal range have been lashed by torrential rains since early August, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides. Officials say the fragile mountainous terrain, combined with saturated soil from continuous rain, significantly increases the likelihood of sudden cloudburst events like Wednesday’s.
The Machail Mata Yatra, which attracts thousands of pilgrims annually, passes through some of the most remote and weather-vulnerable terrain in Kishtwar. Authorities have appealed to pilgrims and tourists to avoid travelling to the region until conditions improve.
Rescue operations are continuing in Chashoti, with officials warning that the casualty figure could rise as more areas are reached. The administration is also assessing damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges, that connect remote mountain villages to the rest of the district.
Also Read: Typhoon Podul Makes Landfall in Taiwan, Triggering Major Disruptions Across the South
