Chasoti, Kishtwar – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said he understood the frustration of locals searching for missing relatives after a devastating cloudburst, as residents confronted him during his visit to Chasoti.
Abdullah, who travelled by road to the last motorable point before the Machail Mata temple, said the current priority was rescuing those still trapped under debris. “I can understand their anger. They have been waiting for their family members for two days and want to know whether they are alive or not,” he told reporters.
A coordinated rescue operation involving the NDRF, SDRF, Army, J&K Police, and CISF is underway. Official reports put the number of missing at 70–80, while locals fear the toll could be much higher. The confirmed death toll stands at around 60.
The Chief Minister met affected families on both sides of the stream, connected by a makeshift log bridge, and assured them that if the missing were found dead, their bodies would be returned promptly for last rites. He also announced that Rs 36 lakh in immediate relief had been distributed, with additional funds to be released from the CM’s Relief Fund.
When asked about relocating affected families, Abdullah said a team of experts should assess the risks before any decision is made.
The disaster struck at 12:25 pm on August 14, sweeping away a makeshift market, a community kitchen for pilgrims, and a security outpost. Sixteen houses, several government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-meter bridge, and over a dozen vehicles were destroyed.
The annual Machail Mata Yatra, which began on July 25 and was scheduled to conclude on September 5, has been suspended for three days. The 8.5-km trek to the 9,500-foot-high shrine begins from Chasoti, located about 90 km from Kishtwar town.
