Devastating Cloudburst in Kishtwar District of J&K; At Least 12 Dead, Officials Suspend Machail Mata Yatra, Operations Underway

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A devastating cloudburst triggered flash floods in Chashoti village of Kishtwar district on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people and prompting large-scale rescue operations in the pilgrimage area. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as teams continue to search for missing persons.

Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, Pankaj Sharma, confirmed the fatalities and said rescue teams had recovered 12 bodies so far. “A flash flood has occurred at Chashoti area in Kishtwar, which is the starting point of the Machail Mata Yatra. Rescue operations have been started,” Sharma told reporters.

Chashoti, located at an altitude of about 9,500 feet and roughly 90 km from Kishtwar town, is the last motorable village en route to the Mata Chandi shrine. The annual Machail Mata Yatra has been suspended in the wake of the disaster.

Visuals from the site showed pilgrims being evacuated from the flood-hit region, with rescue personnel moving them to safer locations. Officials said a ‘langar’ (community kitchen) set up for devotees bore the brunt of the flash floods.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences to the families of the victims and directed the Civil Administration, Police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF to strengthen rescue and relief measures. Ground teams, supported by specialized equipment, are combing through debris in search of survivors and additional victims.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh posted on X that he had spoken to the Deputy Commissioner and that a massive cloudburst in Kishtwar district of J&K could result in substantial casualties. He said the administration had “immediately swung into action” and rescue teams had left for the site.

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the situation. In a post on X, Abdullah wrote, “The news is grim and accurate; verified information from the area hit by the cloudburst is slow in arriving. All possible resources are being mobilised from within and beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations.”

On Thursday, the district administration set up a control room-cum-help desk to assist residents and pilgrims, streamline communication, and ensure timely delivery of aid. The help desk is handling family inquiries, logging assistance requests, and issuing regular updates.

The suspension of the Machail Mata Yatra has left many pilgrims stranded. Rescue teams are working to move them to safer locations while officials assess damage to roads, bridges, and local infrastructure.

Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions, warning of the possibility of additional flooding in the area. Residents have been advised to remain alert as relief and evacuation efforts continue. [Rh/Eth/VS]

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