Kishtwar, Aug 20 (KNO): Amid dwindling hopes, rescue operations at cloudburst hit Chisoti village in Kishtwar district continued for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday.
The devastating cloudburst that triggered flash floods in the hamlet on August 14, has so far claimed 65 lives, with over 70 people still reported missing.
Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that rescue teams have intensified efforts to locate survivors and recover bodies from the treacherous terrain.
They said that bodies continue to surface around the cloudburst site, prompting large-scale and painstaking search and recovery operations. “Rescue teams are working relentlessly across multiple locations, focusing on areas severely impacted by the sudden deluge,” officials added.
The cloudburst struck the Chisoti area, a crucial point on the route of the annual Machail Mata Yatra pilgrimage last week. The sudden flash floods led to deaths, disrupted the pilgrimage and caused extensive damage to local infrastructure and houses.
“Given the challenging and rugged terrain, rescue teams have deployed specialized all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to reach locations inaccessible by conventional rescue equipment. Earth movers and sniffer dogs are also being used extensively to comb through debris, particularly near a langar site that suffered significant destruction,” the officials added.
Local authorities, supported by central agencies, continue to coordinate rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts. "Teams remain committed to searching for missing persons while working to restore essential services disrupted by the disaster," they said.
Meanwhile, the sacred Pavitra Charri (Holy Mace) of Shree Chandi Mata commenced its spiritual journey from Shri Gauri Shankar Mandir-Sarkoot after a night halt. The Holy Mace proceeded towards the revered shrine of Shree Chandi Mata at Machail Village in Block Paddar.
In view of the cloudburst incident, the Holy Mace proceeded in a simple and solemn manner, with a few vehicles accompanying it amid tight security.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep concern over the missing persons in Kishtwar, stating that the chances of finding the 70 individuals alive are extremely slim.
"The situation in Kishtwar is very difficult. As more days pass, the chances of finding the 70 missing people alive are almost impossible. Our main focus now is to recover as many bodies as possible so families can perform last rites. At the same time, we are committed to rehabilitating those affected by this tragedy and providing them the support they need," he added—(KNO)