45 killed, 120 injured rescued in J&K cloudburst; ops continue to search for missing people
A massive cloudburst in J&K’s Kishtwar district killed 45 people, injured 120, and left many missing. Rescue operations involving Army, NDRF, and SDRF continue, with health infrastructure bolstered for critical care.
Jammu: As many as 45 people were killed and 120 injured in the massive cloudburst that hit Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Kishtwar district, as authorities continued the relief and rescue operations on Friday.
The cloudburst hit Chashoti area of Kishtwar’s Paddar sub-division on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, including two CISF personnel and many Machail Mata pilgrims.
Officials said over 120 injured have been rescued, while the condition of 35 of them has been described as serious by doctors.
Authorities confirmed that many people are still missing, and apprehensions are that some of them could be trapped under the debris.
The joint rescue operation was launched immediately after the cloudburst by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, Army, and local volunteers. Two fresh teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been mobilised, and over 300 soldiers deployed for the rescue operation by the Army.
Chashoti is the last motorable village on the road to Machail Mata temple. A large number of people had assembled for the Machail Mata Yatra when the disaster struck.
The Yatra, which began on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5, has been suspended because of the tragedy.
Dozens of homes, six government buildings, three temples, cowsheds, and a bridge were washed away downstream.
A ‘langar’ (community kitchen) set up for devotees bore the brunt of the cloudburst, which led to flash floods and washed away several structures, including temporary shops and a security outpost. Reports said the community kitchen was packed with devotees when the tragedy struck.
MoS (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh said on X, “A massive cloudburst in Chashoti area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site.”
The minister spoke to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner on the matter and remained in constant touch with the administration.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “In light of the tragedy caused by the cloudburst in Kishtwar, I have taken the decision to cancel the ‘At Home’ tea party tomorrow evening.” He added that the government has decided not to go ahead with cultural events during the morning Independence Day celebrations. “The formal events — speech, march past etc — will go ahead as planned,” he informed.
Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha said, “Anguished by cloudburst in Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families and prayers for quick recovery of 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. Rescue and relief operations at Chashoti are in full swing. Men and machinery have been put at the site. Other teams have also been rushed. Briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on rescue and relief operations by various agencies. He has assured all possible assistance. I want to assure all the affected families that the Government stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of crisis. Air Force has also been alerted for evacuation. I am constantly monitoring the situation.”
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Sunil Kumar Sharma said he had received information from his workers that a massive cloudburst had occurred. “At the moment, I don’t think anyone has exact figures but I believe there could be significant damage in the area,” he said. Both Sunil Sharma (MLA Paddar) and MLA Kishtwar Shagun Parihar visited the spot to supervise rescue operations and share the grief of people who lost their dear ones.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma said that the Yatra to the Machail Mata shrine was suspended following the tragedy, as authorities mobilised all resources for rescue operations at Chashoti. He said teams of the NDRF were rushed from Udhampur to Kishtwar, and 118 RCC of BRO also deployed men and machinery to clear the damaged Chashoti road and raise a temporary bridge.
Deputy Commissioner and SSP Kishtwar Naresh Singh are supervising the rescue operation on site.
An official said that till late night, 11 bodies had been identified and 67 injured were shifted to District Hospital Kishtwar, while some serious patients were referred to Jammu. The deceased include Meenakshi, daughter of Balbir Kumar from Pancheri in Udhampur; Ramesh Kumar from Dhandyal in Udhampur; Anand Kumar, son of Gopi Chand from Hauz Khas, Delhi; Palak Sharma, daughter of Neeraj Sharma from Narwal, Jammu; Neha Devi, resident of Ward No. 4 Gomanasan; Arushi Devi and Sharda, residents of Assar; Amit Kumar Sharma, son of Thouru Ram from Akhnoor; Sunil Kumar, son of Parshotam Dass from Barmeen (Udh); Bimla Devi, wife of late Suraj Parkash from Bajarni Doda; and Monika Mehra, wife of Ajay Mehra, resident of Jammu.
Seriously injured Pushpa Devi, resident of Roopnagar, Jammu, died while being shifted to Jammu from Kishtwar hospital.
Critical health infrastructure was reinforced at Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Paddar, with an additional deployment of 13 doctors and 31 paramedics. Senior officers of the health department are stationed at Paddar overseeing rescue and medical operations.
District Hospital (DH) Kishtwar has been augmented with General Surgeons, Orthopaedic Surgeons, and Anaesthetists from Government Medical College (GMC) Doda. Tertiary care institutions have been put on full readiness. A team of specialists has been readied at Doda to manage patients being referred from DH Kishtwar.
Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu is fully operational with 50 dedicated disaster beds, 20 ventilator beds, and 5 operation theatres. Specialist medical teams comprising Orthopaedicians, Neurosurgeons, Critical Care Anaesthetists, and Maxillofacial consultants are on standby. The GMC Jammu Blood Bank has been stocked with over 200 units of blood for any exigency.
To assist in the response, PGIMER Chandigarh has dispatched a specialised team comprising Critical Care Specialists and Neurosurgeons to GMC Jammu to enhance patient care capabilities.
Immediately after the incident, 65 ambulances from the Health Department, NHPC, Army, CRPF, and 108 Emergency Service of the J&K Health and Medical Education Department were deployed for rescue and patient transfer.