Jammu/Kishtwar: A devastating cloudburst in Chasoti village of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, has claimed 60 lives and left more than 100 people injured, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed on Friday. Rescue operations have been intensified, with thousands of people still stranded in Machail village.
Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and paramilitary units are working to evacuate them. Damaged roads and bridges have slowed the process, forcing rescuers to clear narrow pathways and move people out in small groups. Once evacuations are complete, a full-scale search for missing persons will begin.
Rescue Efforts in Full Swing
Officials said a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached the disaster-hit village on Friday. So far, 167 people have been rescued. Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma said the NDRF team joined operations late Thursday night after reaching Gulabgarh by road due to poor weather, which grounded helicopters. Two additional NDRF teams are en route to the site.
The Army has deployed an additional contingent to speed up rescue efforts, with five teams of 60 soldiers each (total 300 personnel) from the White Knight Corps, along with medical units, joining the mission. Soldiers from the Rashtriya Rifles, Jammu and Kashmir Police, SDRF, and other civilian agencies are working tirelessly to save lives and assist those in need.
Officials confirmed that search and rescue operations will continue around the clock despite challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions.