12 bodies recovered after Massive cloudburst hit Chasoti village in Jammu & Kashmir's Kishtwar
Officials said the flash floods have hit several houses as it is dense hamlet located at the foothill.
Chasoti village, Jammu & Kashmir’s Kishtwar cloudburst death toll, Latest News
12 bodies have been recovered from the cloudburst-hit village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, PTI reported, citing officials. The death toll could go up, it said.
A massive cloudburst struck a remote village, Chasoti, en route to the Machail Mata yatra in Kishtwar district on Thursday.
According to PTI, Chasoti is the last motorable village en route to the shrine. The annual yatra to the shrine has been suspended following the incident.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar told ANI that around 11.30 am, they received information that a cloudburst occurred in the Chashoti area in Kishtwar. He added, "SRDF, local police and administration reached the spot. The NDRF team is also about to reach the spot. The army, air force teams have also been activated. Search and rescue operations are underway..."
Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been rushed to the area to conduct rescue operations.
According to the Hindu, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
“Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families & prayers for quick recovery of injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF & SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected,” he said on X as quoted in the report.
Commissioner, Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, along with Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh were heading to the cloudburst-hit area.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to DC Kishtwar Sh Pankaj Kumar Sharma after receiving an ‘urgent message’ from LoP #JammuAndKashmir and local MLA Sh Sunil Kumar Sharma.
“Massive cloud burst in Chositi area, which could result in substantial casualties. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site. Damage evaluation and necessary rescue and medical management arrangements being made,” he said in a post on X.
“My office is receiving regular updates; all possible assistance will be provided,” he added.
According to the Hindu report, Officials said the flash floods have hit several houses as it is dense hamlet located at the foothill.
Home Minister said he spoke to the LG and Chief Minister of J&K on the cloudburst in Kishtwar district. He said that the local administration is conducting relief and rescue operations and that NDRF teams have promptly been rushed to the site. "We are closely monitoring the situation and stand firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir through every situation. Assured of all possible assistance to the people in need."
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, speaking to the media, said, "We were in the middle of a media briefing at the National Media Centre when I received an urgent message from the Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, who is also the local MLA from that region in Kishtwar. He was upset and in a state of panic. He informed me about a massive cloudburst in the area he represents, which is also likely along the route of the popular Machail Mata Yatra held at this time of year."
"The cloudburst is of a massive scale and could result in substantial casualties, though the exact figures are yet to be confirmed. We immediately contacted the district administration, which too was taken by surprise. They have already begun moving towards the site, which is difficult to access due to challenging topography and location. The rescue teams have already swung into action," he added.
"Very soon, we'll get more details," he said, adding, "My office, my team, and I are all in touch with each other. Every possible assistance will be provided, including medical management." the minister assured that injured who need to be shifted out, will be airlifted through helicopters, subject to weather conditions."
BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik said he is 'deeply saddened" by the loss of so many "precious lives" in the cloudburst."My thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families during this difficult time, and pray for the speedy recovery of those who have sustained injuries. We pray to Lord Jagannatha to offer strength to the families who faced the nature’s fury and salute the rescue personnel for their efforts to save precious lives."
Meanwhile, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who said he briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the developing situation in the region, noted, "The news is grim & accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloud burst is slow in arriving. All possible resources are being mobilised from within & beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations. I’m not going to be speaking to channels or news agencies. The government will share information as & when possible."
JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah, commenting on the devastating situation, highlighted that cloudbursts have become a 'routine' in the mountains and said that lakhs of people take the yatra where the cloudburst has hit today.
Speaking to Media, he said, "This is a very unfortunate incident. Cloudbursts have become a routine in our mountain areas. You saw this in Uttarakhand, you saw the damage there. It happened in Ramban last year. This time, it happened on the route of Machail Mata Yatra. Lakhs of people undertake this Yatra...We hope that IAF helicopters are able to go there and retrieve the injured. Villages and the temple area have suffered damage...Rescue operation is underway...We hope that the death toll is not very high..."
Further details are awaited.
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