46 useless, 100-odd injured, many missing as cloudburst wipes out pilgrims’ camp in J&K’s Kishtwar | India News

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Flash flooding inside moments of a cloudburst Thursday wrought tragic devastation on a pilgrimage pit cease at Chishoti in J&K’s Kishtwar district, killing a minimum of 46 individuals – most of them pilgrims on the return leg of the Shri Machail Mata Yatra – and injuring over 100.Scores of pilgrims have been reported missing as Army, police, NDRF and different businesses mounted a search operation and rescued round 160 individuals in the few hours earlier than nightfall set in. Most of the reported casualties have been discovered round a langar (group kitchen) arrange for pilgrims, officers mentioned.“I am unable to hold back my tears. The situation is bad,” PTI quoted BJP’s Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar as saying from Chishoti.At Paddar, the city closest to the catastrophe zone, chief of the opposition Sunil Sharma informed reporters that 100-odd individuals have been missing. “There are mud-caked bodies and critically injured people all around. The death toll could rise,” he mentioned.The cloudburst occurred between midday and 1pm, inflicting quickly filling rivulets to swamp a swathe of the valley. The camp arrange for pilgrims bore the brunt of the harm, leaving a mud-filled gorge the place the langar stood. (*46*) washed away a number of different constructions, together with a safety publish. Dozens of automobiles have been broken.“Two CISF personnel were among the victims. Many of the pilgrims who died were having lunch in the langar when disaster struck,” an official mentioned.Chishoti is about 90km from Kishtwar city and the final cease earlier than pilgrims trek 8.5km to the traditional Machail Mata shrine. The 43-day Shri Machail Mata Yatra, which commenced on July 25 and was to proceed until Sept 5, has been suspended.“I just spoke to the Union home minister @AmitShah to brief him about the developing situation in Kishtwar region of Jammu,” CM Omar Abdullah wrote on X, additionally saying the cancellation of his scheduled “At Home” tea occasion on Independence Day.“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 Narendra Modi wrote on X.IGP (Jammu zone) Bhimsen Tuti mentioned the administration had “activated” management rooms and assist desks throughout Kishtwar to offer updates in regards to the rescue efforts.Many of the injured are at Paddar sub-district hospital whereas these requiring specialised medical consideration have been shifted to the district hospital in the headquarters city. “I don’t have words to describe what has happened. There are scores of injured in the hospital. We don’t have a count yet of how many people have been separated from their families,” mentioned Pooja Thakur, chairperson of the District Development Council of Kishtwar.J&Ok lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha mentioned the IAF was on standby for evacuation of survivors from the affected zone. “Men and machinery have been put at the site. Other teams have also been rushed…I am constantly monitoring the situation.”