46 dead, 100-odd injured, many missing as cloudburst wipes out pilgrims' camp in J&K's Kishtwar

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Flash flooding within moments of a cloudburst Thursday wrought tragic devastation on a pilgrimage pit stop at Chishoti in J&K's Kishtwar district, killing at least 46 people – most of them pilgrims on the return leg of the Shri Machail Mata Yatra – and injuring over 100.

Scores of pilgrims were reported missing as Army, police, NDRF and other agencies mounted a search operation and rescued around 160 people in the few hours before dusk set in. Most of the reported casualties were found around a langar (community kitchen) set up for pilgrims, officials said.

"I am unable to hold back my tears. The situation is bad," PTI quoted BJP's Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar as saying from Chishoti.

At Paddar, the town closest to the disaster zone, leader of the opposition Sunil Sharma told reporters that 100-odd people were missing. "There are mud-caked bodies and critically injured people all around. The death toll could rise," he said.

The cloudburst occurred between noon and 1pm, causing rapidly filling rivulets to swamp a swathe of the valley. The camp set up for pilgrims bore the brunt of the damage, leaving a mud-filled gorge where the langar stood. Floodwaters washed away several other structures, including a security post. Dozens of vehicles were damaged.

"Two CISF personnel were among the victims. Many of the pilgrims who died were having lunch in the langar when disaster struck," an official said.

Chishoti is about 90km from Kishtwar town and the last stop before pilgrims trek 8.5km to the ancient Machail Mata shrine. The 43-day Shri Machail Mata Yatra, which commenced on July 25 and was to continue till Sept 5, has been suspended.

"I just spoke to the Union home minister @AmitShah to brief him about the developing situation in Kishtwar region of Jammu," CM Omar Abdullah wrote on X, also announcing the cancellation of his scheduled "At Home" tea party on Independence Day.

"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 Narendra Modi wrote on X.

IGP (Jammu zone) Bhimsen Tuti said the administration had "activated" control rooms and help desks across Kishtwar to provide updates about the rescue efforts.

Many of the injured are at Paddar sub-district hospital while those requiring specialised medical attention have been shifted to the district hospital in the headquarters town. "I don't have words to describe what has happened. There are scores of injured in the hospital. We don't have a count yet of how many people have been separated from their families," said Pooja Thakur, chairperson of the District Development Council of Kishtwar.

J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said the IAF was on standby for evacuation of survivors from the affected zone. "Men and machinery have been put at the site. Other teams have also been rushed…I am constantly monitoring the situation."