J&K Cloudburst: Death Toll Rises To 60, Over 100 Injured After Flash Flood Hits Kishtwar's Chositi, More Than 160 Rescued - Latest Developments

Kishtwar: The death toll in the massive cloudburst that hit Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) Kishtwar district rose to 60 on Friday. As many as 120 were also reportedly injured in the tragic incident. On Thursday afternoon, the massive cloudburst hit the Chositi area of Kishtwar's Paddar sub-division, triggering a flash flood in the region.

For the unversed, it is the last motorable village on the road to the Machail Mata temple. Among the deceased were two Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and Machail Mata pilgrims. A joint rescue operation was launched immediately after the cloudburst by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, the Indian Army and local volunteers.

Latest Developments:

- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sunil Sharma told India Today TV that the death toll could rise as around 1,200 people were present at the spot when the cloudburst hit.

- “60 people have lost theri lives and over 100 are injured in Kishtwar's cloudburst," J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said while addressing a gathering in Srinagar's Bakshi stadium. Many people are feared missing. The flash flood, accompanied by mudslides and debris flows, buried homes, shops and vehicles.

- "Out of 45 bodies retrieved so far, 21 have been identified by their families. The rest are being identified,” a senior official said as quoted by PTI. The authorities also shared pictures of the bodies with their families so that they could identify them.

- After the cloudburst, the troops of the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps were swiftly mobilised for rescue & relief ops. Over 5 columns of 60 personnel each and medical detachments of the White Knight Corps are involved in the rescue operation.

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths of people in the cloudburst. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The situation is being monitored closely. Rescue and relief operations are underway. Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need,” PM Modi said in his X post.

- Over 160 people have been rescued and brought to safety so far.

- There are two villages ahead of the cloudburst-hit belt -- Machail and Hamori -- where hundreds of people are stranded, the officials said,

The local administration has issued helpline numbers for the family members of the people trapped and killed in the tragic incident. The numbers provided are: 9858223125, 6006701934, 9797504078, 8492886895, 8493801381, and 7006463710.

- Congress MP Rahul Gandhi offered condolences to the bereaved families. He urged Congress workers to help authorities in the rescue operation. “The news of several deaths and many people missing due to the devastation caused by a cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely tragic. I express my deep condolences to the affected families and hope for the swift recovery of those who are missing. I urge the administration to expedite relief and rescue operations. I request Congress leaders and workers to cooperate with the administration and provide all possible assistance to those in need,” he said in his X post.

- The flash flood also swept away a security camp and several vehicles parked at the bus stand. A temple in the middle of the flooded area miraculously survived. A langar (community kitchen) and several other structures, including shops and a security outpost, were washed away in the flash flood.

- Many vehicles at the bus stand, the starting point for the foot journey to the Himalayan temple of Machail Mata, were also severely damaged.

Published on: Friday, August 15, 2025, 12:17 PM IST