Kishtwar cloudburst LIVE updates: 34 useless in J&Ok tragedy, 120 injured; Congress urges higher Military, NDRF deployment

Giant-scale rescue and aid efforts have commenced following a large cloudburst in a distant village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday (August 14), which resulted within the loss of life of at the least 17 folks and widespread injury, officers reported.

The catastrophe struck Chositi, the final motorable village en path to Machail Mata temple, between 12 midday and 1 pm, when quite a few folks had gathered for the Machail Mata pilgrimage. The 8.5 kilometre trek to the 9,500-feet-high shrine begins from Chositi. Not less than 17 people are confirmed killed, with three extra feared useless. There are issues that the toll may improve additional, officers acknowledged, including that 65 folks have been saved thus far.

Chositi is roughly 90 kilometres from Kishtwar city. A ’langar’ (neighborhood kitchen) arrange for the devotees right here was severely affected by the cloudburst, which induced flash floods and swept away a number of buildings together with retailers and a safety publish.

Instantly after the calamity struck, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma mobilised rescue groups and proceeded to the location to personally oversee the operations together with the Senior Superintendent of Police.

“An enormous cloudburst in Chositi space, which might end in substantial casualty. Administration has instantly swung into motion, rescue staff has left for the location,” Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated in an X publish. The minister talked about that he additionally spoke to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner concerning the problem.

The annual pilgrimage to the Machail Mata shrine was suspended following the tragedy because the authorities marshalled all assets for rescue operations at Chositi, officers knowledgeable. Two groups of the Nationwide Catastrophe Response Pressure (NDRF) have been dispatched from Udhampur to Kishtwar.

“Large rescue operations have been began within the space,” acknowledged the deputy commissioner, who was en path to the location. Officers added that the flash floods affected a number of homes clustered collectively within the foothills.

Lt Gov Manoj Sinha expressed condolences for the lack of lives within the occasion.

“Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved households and prayers for fast restoration of the injured. Directed Civil, Police, Military, NDRF and SDRF officers to strengthen the rescue and aid operations and guarantee all potential help is supplied to the affected,” he stated on X.

Chief of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma stated he had obtained data from his staff {that a} large cloudburst occurred. “In the intervening time, I don’t assume anybody has precise figures however I consider there could possibly be important injury within the space,” he stated, including that many individuals had gathered for the pilgrimage.

Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad additionally expressed sorrow over the incident.

“Deeply saddened by the cloudburst in Chositi, Kishtwar. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved households and prayers for the speedy restoration of the injured. Urge the govt. to right away perform rescue & aid operations and guarantee all potential help and remedy for these affected,” he stated in a publish on X.

BJP chief Jehanzaib Sirwal, whereas extending his deepest sympathies to the affected folks, stated the heart-breaking incident highlights a broader concern that can’t be ignored – the unchecked enlargement of energy initiatives in Kishtwar.

“Whereas growth is important, the continuing initiatives, pursued with out thorough mechanisms or correct environmental assessments, pose a grave menace to our fragile ecosystem,” Sirwal stated, urging the Centre to institute quick and thorough checks on these initiatives.

“If sturdy measures will not be carried out even now, the results for Kishtwar and its folks could possibly be much more catastrophic within the years forward,” he warned.