JAMMU — On Thursday, a terrible cloudburst hit a remote Himalayan village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, leaving behind a path of damage and sadness. Officials said that the event, which caused huge flash floods, has killed at least 37 people and hurt more than 100 others.
The incident happened in Chasoti hamlet, which lies on the banks of Chishoti Nullah, a small river that is an important halt on the annual pilgrimage path to the famous Mata Machail temple in the Padder district. A police officer said that the cloudburst, which was a rapid downpour of more than 100mm of rain in an hour, caused a flood about noon. The rapid flood sadly impacted a langar, or community kitchen, where about 100 to 150 pilgrims were eating.
Pankaj Kumar Sharma, the Kishtwar District Commissioner, stated that the number of dead and injured is climbing and said that more victims are likely to be recovered as rescue operations continue. B.S. Tuti, the Inspector General of Police for the Jammu zone, also said that majority of the victims were pilgrims and that the number of deaths is likely to rise.
After the tragedy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that all cultural events planned for the region’s Independence Day festivities would be canceled out of respect for the victims. He has also gotten help from people and things outside of the Union Territory to help with the rescue and relief efforts.
The injured were quickly taken to the sub-district hospital in Atholi. Many of them were then moved to the district hospital in Kishtwar, which is roughly 80 km distant, for more advanced care. The floodwaters also destroyed three to four dwellings near the rivulet, in addition to the communal kitchen. The major part of Chishoti village, which is on higher ground, was not hit as hard by the destruction.
People from the Indian Army, Border Security Force, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are in charge of the immediate rescue attempts. Deepak Singh, who lives in Gulabgarh, said the scene was “very grim.” He confirmed that a CISF picket and numerous parked cars were also swept away in the flood. The yearly visit to the Mata Machail temple has been put on hold since the disaster.