Kishtwar cloudburst: Search operation for missing enters day 4

Kishtwar (J&K), Aug17: Rescue efforts in the cloudburst-hit Chisoti village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district have entered their fourth day, with teams now focusing on a major impact zone. The disaster, which occurred on August 14, has claimed the lives of 60 people and left 80 others missing. A further 167 people were injured.

​The flash floods that followed the cloudburst caused widespread destruction, sweeping away more than a dozen vehicles and damaging a makeshift market, a community kitchen (langar) for the Machail Mata yatra, and 16 houses. Government buildings, three temples, four water mills, and a 30-meter bridge were also damaged or destroyed.

On Saturday evening, rescuers used explosives to clear giant boulders that had been blocking access to the worst-hit langar site, allowing operations to move forward. A joint team of police, the Army, NDRF, SDRF, BRO, civil administration, and local volunteers are working around the clock on the rescue mission. So far, 50 bodies have been identified and returned to their families.

​In an effort to restore connectivity to Chisoti and the shrine, Army engineers have begun constructing a 17-meter Bailey bridge. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army’s Delta Force, Maj Gen A P S Bal, stated that the bridge is expected to be completed by Sunday evening. He added that the Army responded within 45 minutes of the disaster and is providing essential supplies, including food and medicine, to survivors in addition to participating in rescue operations.

The Machail Mata yatra, which started on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5, has been suspended for the fourth consecutive day.

​Rescue teams are using heavy machinery, earth-movers, and NDRF dog squads to help locate the people who are still missing as the search continues.