Many pilgrims were standing in nullah when cloudburst hit, several swept away: Locals on Kishtwar tragedy

Local residents said the cloudburst took place between noon and 1 pm, when a large number of people had gathered at Chositi, the last motorable point to the Kali Mata temple at Machail, situated at an altitude of 2,880 metres.

After parking their vehicles at Chositi, where makeshift shops and a langar had been set up, pilgrims would proceed to the temple on foot along the Jasnai nullah.

When the cloudburst occurred, a large number of them were either standing in the nullah, or sitting inside the langer set up nearby, locals said, adding that within seconds, many got washed away as the nullah suddenly saw a massive rise in water level.

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.

Officials feared that the death toll could rise, saying that several people were missing.

Rescue operations by teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), security forces, police, and locals are underway.

Officials said many of those who were in the area had managed to escape when the cloudburst hit, and that authorities were trying to account for their whereabouts so as to figure out the number of people missing.

Deputy Commissioner Sharma said the rescue operations are in progress, but the Machail yatra has been suspended.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the political leaders to react to the incident and express condolences.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The situation is being monitored closely. Rescue and relief operations are underway. Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to both J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take stock of the situation and assured them of all possible help. In a post on X, Shah said NDRF teams have been rushed to the site and the government is closely monitoring the situation.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives. In a post on X, he said, “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.”

Senior officers from the civil administration, police and security forces were in Paddar to supervise rescue operations. Rescue operations have been complicated by the fact that the road to the site of the incident has been washed away, and the weather is not fit for helicopter flights.

Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh said in a post on X, “The additional rescue teams are finding it difficult to reach the site of the cloudburst, yet they are trying despite all the constraints. The road has been washed off, and the weather is not helicopter-worthy. Meanwhile, SDRF and NDRF support is being mobilised… While I am coordinating with central authorities, I have also made a request to allow me to travel, if by any chance the Air Force authorities can try for a helicopter sortie.”

In view of the tragedy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has cancelled his “at home” tea party that was to be held on Friday evening to mark Independence Day. “We have also decided not to go ahead with the cultural events during the morning Independence Day celebrations,” he said in a post on X, adding that “the formal events — speech, march past, etc will go ahead as planned”.

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