Jammu: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have identified 21 of the 46 bodies recovered from Chisoti village in Kishtwar district following a devastating cloudburst, officials said Friday.
A massive flash flood, triggered by the cloudburst, struck the remote mountain village on Thursday, killing at least 46 people, including two CISF personnel.
To aid identification, officials shared photos of the victims via WhatsApp with families, enabling the confirmation of 21 bodies so far. Over 160 people have been rescued, 38 of whom are in serious condition. Authorities warned the death toll could rise as more individuals are believed trapped.
“We have shared pictures of the bodies for identification,” an official said, adding that families have been calling to locate their loved ones.
In response to the disaster, the Jammu and Kashmir administration established a control room and help desk in Paddar, roughly 15 km from Chisoti, with five officials on duty. The contact numbers are: 9858223125, 6006701934, 9797504078, 8492886895, 8493801381, and 7006463710. Since the tragedy, the desk has received numerous distress calls, and authorities are tracing 67 people reported missing.
Two villages beyond the affected area, Machail and Hamori, still have hundreds stranded. Officials noted that mobile phones are mostly out of battery due to power cuts, but authorities will ascertain their status once contact is made.
Search operations continue, with efforts to retrieve more victims from mud and debris. Villagers reported seeing 10 bodies floating in the Chenab river, which rescue teams are attempting to recover.
Chisoti, a base camp for the annual Machail Mata Yatra, was crowded with pilgrims when the disaster struck between 12 noon and 1 pm Thursday. The flash floods, along with mudslides and debris flows, destroyed homes, shops, and vehicles, leaving many missing. A security camp and several vehicles at the bus stand were swept away, though a temple in the center of the area survived.
Even the langar (community kitchen) for devotees was damaged, along with several other structures. Vehicles at the bus stand, the starting point for the Himalayan temple trek, were heavily affected by the floodwaters and mud.
