JK's Kishtawar Clouburst: Minister Jitendra Singh Says, 'Rescue teams struggling to reach the spot'
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, told ANI that they received the information around 11.30 am.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district Clouburst Latest Updates
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, in an update on the cloudburst that occurred early Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, said that additional rescue teams are finding it difficult to reach the scene due to roads being washed away.
The Chasoti village, where a massive cloudburst hit early today, is the last motorable village en route to the Machail Mata yatra, which was underway when the cloudburst hit. Twelve bodies have been recovered from the incident so far, as reported by PTI, and it is feared that the death toll could go up as the annual Yatra is taken up by a large number of devotees around this time to the shrine.
In the update, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on X, said, “Just now received a call from LoP J&K and local MLA Sh Sunil Kumar Sharma. Also spoke to CM Omar Abdullarh. The additional rescue teams are finding it difficult to reach the site of the cloud burst, yet they are trying despite all the constraints. Road has been washed off and the weather is not helicopter-worthy.”
“Meanwhile, SDRF and NDRF support is being mobilised. I have expressed my keenness to be on the spot, but have been advised both by the LoP and the CM to hold on till it is feasible to travel. While I am coordinating with the Central authorities, I have also made a request to allow me to travel if by any chance the Air Force authorities could try a helicopter sortie,” he added.
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,” the Minister added.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the developing situation in the region. He said, "The news is grim & accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloud burst is slow in arriving.”
He ensured that 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," Omar added in a post on X.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, told ANI that they received the information around 11.30 am.
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