At least 10 people are feared dead after a massive cloudburst triggered flash floods in Chashoti village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday morning. The incident occurred in the Paddar region, a remote area that serves as a key route for the annual Machail Mata Yatra pilgrimage.
Officials said the sudden downpour struck around dawn, unleashing torrents of water and debris that swept through the narrow valley. A langar (community kitchen) set up for pilgrims was among the structures washed away in the deluge. Several people were reported missing, while others sustained injuries as they were caught in the force of the floodwaters.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Sharma, confirmed that rescue operations began immediately after reports of the cloudburst reached local authorities. “Teams from the police, SDRF, and civil administration have been deployed. The focus right now is on locating the missing and moving survivors to safer ground,” he said.
The remote location and damage to connecting roads have complicated rescue efforts. Heavy rainfall continued through the morning, raising fears of further landslides or flash floods. Helicopter support from the Indian Air Force has been requested to assist in evacuation and supply delivery, officials added.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said he was in constant touch with the district administration and local representatives. “All possible assistance is being provided. Relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing,” he posted on social media. Dr. Singh received the first alert from Sunil Kumar Sharma, local MLA and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the tragedy, offering condolences to the bereaved families and assuring full government support. “I am deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the cloudburst in Kishtwar. We have directed all concerned departments to strengthen relief measures and provide every possible help to the affected,” he said in a statement.
The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has issued a fresh warning for moderate to heavy rainfall across the Union Territory in the next 24 hours, with the possibility of thunderstorms and gusty winds. Authorities have urged residents, particularly in mountainous regions, to remain alert.
Chashoti and its surrounding areas lie in a zone highly vulnerable to flash floods during the monsoon season. Environmental experts say extreme weather events like cloudbursts have become more frequent in recent years, possibly due to climate change and altered rainfall patterns.
As rescue teams comb through debris and swollen riverbanks, the atmosphere in Paddar remains tense. Pilgrims stranded along the yatra route are being moved to temporary shelters, and medical camps have been set up to treat the injured.
By late evening, officials had yet to confirm the exact number of casualties, but the fear was that the toll could rise once full access to the affected zone is restored.
For now, the people of Kishtwar are bracing for a long night, clinging to hope that more lives can be saved before the rains return.
