Jammu: Large-scale rescue and relief operations are underway after a massive cloudburst struck the remote village of Chositi in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday. Officials confirmed at least 17 people have died, while 65 others have been rescued. The toll is feared to rise further.
The cloudburst hit between 12 noon and 1 pm, coinciding with a large gathering of devotees for the annual Machail Mata yatra. Chositi, the last motorable village en route to the 9,500-feet-high shrine, is the starting point of the 8.5-kilometre trek to the temple. A community kitchen (‘langar’) set up for the yatra was heavily damaged, along with several shops and a security outpost, as flash floods swept through the area.
Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma immediately mobilized rescue teams and personally supervised the operations along with the Senior Superintendent of Police. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed from Udhampur to assist in the relief efforts.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, in a post on X, said: “A massive cloudburst in Chositi area could result in substantial casualties. Administration has immediately swung into action; rescue teams have left for the site.” The yatra has been suspended while authorities focus on relief operations.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the incident and directed civil, police, army, NDRF, and SDRF teams to strengthen rescue and relief efforts. Opposition Leader Sunil Kumar Sharma and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also extended condolences, urging swift relief and assistance for those affected.
BJP leader Jehanzaib Sirwal highlighted the incident as a warning about the unchecked proliferation of power projects in Kishtwar. He called for immediate environmental assessments and strict measures, warning that without action, future disasters could have even more severe consequences for the region.
