Kishtwar Cloudburst Devastates Machail Mata Yatra Village

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Cloudburst Devastates Kishtwar’s Chishoti Village; Massive rescue operation launched

By TRH State Desk

Kishtwar, J&K, August 14, 2025 — A massive cloudburst tore through Chishoti village in the Paddar subdivision of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction along the Machail Mata Yatra route.

Initial reports from the region suggest 38 bodies have been recovered and at least 98 people are injured, while over 100 remain missing. The disaster struck at around 12:30 pm, unleashing water and debris from the mountains onto the village. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as search operations progress.

Ravindra Raina, BJP J&K president, said on X that his “heart is bleeding” over the “very, very disturbing” tragedy, adding that local MLAs Sunil Sharma and Shagun Parihar had joined rescue teams on the ground.

Volunteer group ABABEEL said all units, including nine ambulances, had been activated to assist in urgent relief. Gurkirant Singh Kang and other local voices confirmed the location along the pilgrimage route, underscoring the disaster’s impact on pilgrims and villagers alike.

SS Chauhan, citing news agency P1, reported that 12 deaths were initially confirmed, but figures have since climbed sharply.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced the cancellation of the “At Home” tea party and cultural events linked to Independence Day, citing the gravity of the situation. He said he had briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and that “all possible resources are being mobilised from within & beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations.”

Open-source trackers such as OSINT J&K put the toll at 38 dead, 98 injured, and more than 100 missing, with NDRF, SDRF, Army troops, and local teams leading the search. The White Knight Corps said its troops had rushed relief stores, medical teams, and rescue gear to the site, vowing: “We serve, we protect.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and assured that “every possible assistance will be provided.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the incident “terrible” and urged more deployment of NDRF and armed forces for relief and rehabilitation.

As rescue operations race against time, authorities face the twin challenge of treacherous terrain and limited communication from the remote disaster zone.

The catastrophic cloudburst struck Chositi village swept away a community kitchen (langar) set up for the Machail Mata Yatra, along with shops and a security post, causing widespread destruction. The Daily Excelsior, a prominent Jammu-based newspaper, reported that the cloudburst hit Chositi, the last motorable village en route to the Machail Mata temple, during a time when numerous pilgrims had gathered for the annual yatra.

“The flash floods affected several houses clustered in the foothills, with 98 people rescued so far,” the outlet noted, highlighting the scale of the ongoing rescue efforts involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, police, and local volunteers. Kashmir Observer, another leading J&K publication, detailed the severity of the tragedy, stating, “The cloudburst caused unprecedented damage, with fears that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue in the rugged terrain.” The outlet also noted that the Machail Mata Yatra, which began on July 25 and was scheduled to conclude on September 5, has been suspended to focus resources on relief efforts.

Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directed authorities to intensify rescue operations, stating, “Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families and prayers for quick recovery of the injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected.”

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