A massive cloudburst in Kishtwar’s Chasothi area has triggered a devastating disaster, leaving at least 32 dead, 98 injured, and over 100 missing as rescue operations continue amid challenging conditions. Officials fear the death toll may rise further as teams battle damaged roads and landslides to reach isolated villages. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has deployed NDRF, SDRF, Army, and local police in a coordinated rescue effort, with helicopters airlifting critical supplies and medical teams to the worst-hit zones.
Top political leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, have mobilized emergency response measures while expressing solidarity with victims. Shah confirmed central assistance after reviewing the situation with J&K’s leadership, while Abdullah announced scaled-back Independence Day observances as a mark of respect.
Local MLA Sunil Sharma, who is assisting ground operations, described catastrophic damage to infrastructure and ongoing struggles to locate missing shepherds in mountainous terrain.The disaster has created a humanitarian emergency, with hundreds displaced and communication networks severely disrupted. Rescue teams face dual challenges of unstable weather and remote geography as they work to evacuate survivors and recover bodies.
Authorities have established temporary shelters and emergency medical camps while appealing for public cooperation in relief efforts, as the region braces for potential aftershocks of the ecological calamity.
