J&K Kishtwar Cloudburst News: Death toll rises to 50, army joins relief and rescue operation

At least 50 people were killed and more than 100 were injured on Thursday after a cloudburst struck the remote village of Chositi in Paddar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said. More than 50 people are missing.

The incident took place during the Machail Mata pilgrimage, for which Chositi is the last area where yatris can park their vehicles before resuming their journey on foot.

Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, who was at the site supervising rescue operations, said more than 100 people have been rushed to the sub-district hospital at Atholi. From there, around 35 have been referred to the district hospital at Kishtwar.

Kishtwar SSP Naresh Singh said more than 50 people are missing.

Rescue operations by teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), security forces, police, and locals are underway. The Army has moved five columns, comprising 60 personnel each, and medical detachments to carry out relief and rescue operations, the White Knight Corps said.

The Army has joined the relief and rescue operation at the cloudburst-hit Chisoti village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. Over five columns of 60 personnel each, totalling 300 troops, and medical detachments of White Knight Corps are on the ground, working with police SDRF and other civilian agencies to save lives, reports PTI.

The Congress on Thursday expressed pain over the loss of lives in the cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was extremely pained by the loss of several lives in the tragedy.

"My heart goes out to the families of the victims, and I express my deepest sympathies to each of them. My thoughts and prayers are with the injured and with those who are searching their missing family members. I urge the authorities to engage more NDRF and Armed Forces teams for better relief and rehabilitation efforts," he said.

"In this grim situation, Congress workers must extend all possible assistance to the people," the Congress president said.

Former party chief Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, said, "The news of several deaths and many people missing due to the devastation caused by a cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely tragic." He also expressed his condolences to the affected families and hoped that those missing are recovered soon.

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said the loss of lives due to a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely tragic and prayed for the success of relief and rescue operations.

"The news of several deaths due to a cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely tragic. I express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and pray for the success of relief and rescue operations," Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.

CM Omar Abdullah has cancelled 'At Home' ceremony on Independence Day tomorrow. He also decided not to go ahead with the cultural events during the morning Independence Day celebrations.

Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been rushed from Udhampur to Kishtwar. According to PTI, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma said that massive rescue operations have been started in the area.

According to the latest report, at least 23 people were killed while 79 others were injured and taken to Atholi Hospital, with 35 of them later referred to the District Hospital in Kishtwar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his thoughts and prayers to those impacted by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar. He assured that the situation is being closely monitored.

Calling flash flood in Chashoti area in Kishtwar as very unfortunate incident, JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah said that the cloudbursts have become like a routine in our mountain areas.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that all possible resources are being mobilised from within and beyond the Union Territory (UT). He also stated that the administration will share the information as and when possible.

"I just spoke to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to brief him about the developing situation in Kishtwar region of Jammu. The news is grim & accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloud burst is slow in arriving. All possible resources are being mobilised from within & beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations. I’m not going to be speaking to channels or news agencies. The government will share information as & when possible," Abdullah said on X (formerly Twitter).

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma on the matter. "A massive Cloud burst in Chositi area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site", he said on X. Damage evaluation and, necessary rescue and medical management arrangements are being made, he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the situation following a massive cloudburst in Kishtwar and assured them all possible help needed by the people. Shah also said that the local administration is conducting relief and rescue operations and teams of the National Disaster Response Force have rushed to the site.