At least 10 people are feared dead after a massive cloudburst struck the remote Chasoti village in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The incident occurred along the route to the revered Machail Mata shrine, forcing authorities to suspend the annual pilgrimage.
Officials said Chasoti, the last motorable village before the shrine, was hit by the sudden disaster, prompting an immediate rescue and relief operation. The administration has mobilised all available resources, with personnel from the Civil Administration, Police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF rushing to the scene.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, posting on X, “Anguished by the cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families & prayers for quick recovery of injured. Directed officials to strengthen rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided.”
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that he had spoken to Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, adding that “administration has immediately swung into action” and dispatched rescue teams to the site.
Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh are on their way to supervise the ongoing rescue efforts. A team led by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Padder has already reached the area, where at least 10 casualties are feared.
