Kishtwar Cloudburst: 60 deaths, 100 injured, 200 missing… People were standing in line for langar!

Chashoti Village Disaster: Now cloudburst has caused massive destruction in Chashoti area of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir. This disaster has come on the pilgrimage route of Machail Mata Temple. So far 60 people have died in this accident. Also, around 200 are still missing.

Kishtwar Machail Mata Temple Tragedy: After Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, cloudburst has caused a big disaster in Jammu and Kashmir. 60 people died in the flood caused by cloudburst in Chashoti area of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Two CISF jawans are also included in this. Apart from this, 200 people are reported missing. Cloudburst occurred in Kishtwar and within two minutes there was a flood of stones and debris on the pilgrimage route of Machail Mata temple. Whoever was wherever, got buried or got trapped there. People did not get any chance to think and understand.

 

Rescue operations are being carried out continuously by the police-administration. Disaster management teams have rescued many people from near Machail Mata Mandir. 100 people are injured in the devastation caused during this accident, out of which 37 people are in critical condition. The injured have been admitted to the district hospital of Kishtwar. About 70 to 80 people are being treated at the sub-district hospital of Paddar. The help of excavator machines is being taken to remove large stones, uprooted trees and electric poles from the site of the incident.

 

 

The temple is at a height of 9500 feet

Let us tell you that this disaster occurred in the afternoon in Chashoti village on the way to Machail Mata temple. At the time of the accident, a large number of people had gathered for the Machail Mata Yatra. Kishtwar Additional SP Pradeep Singh said, this is a very unfortunate incident. We have been carrying out rescue operations since morning. So far more than 45 people have died and more than 100 people have been injured. Around 200 are still missing.

 

To reach Machail Mata Temple, situated at an altitude of 9500 feet, devotees can reach Chashoti village by motor vehicle only. After that they have to travel 8.5 km on foot. The administration has issued an alert for the people. Relief material in the form of search lights, ropes and digging tools is being carried forward.

When did this disaster occur?

This tragedy struck Chashoti village on the way to Machail Mata Mandir at 12:25 pm on Thursday. At the time of the accident, a large number of people had gathered at the site for the Machail Mata Mandir Yatra. This yatra, which started on 25 July, was to end on 5 September.

Langar was organized for the devotees of Mata in Chashoti village, about 90 km from Kishtwar city. The community kitchen of the langar was the worst affected by this disaster. Due to cloudburst, there was a sudden flood and many buildings including shops and a security post were washed away.

 

Due to the flash flood, 16 residential houses and government buildings, three temples, four windmills, a 30-metre long bridge and more than a dozen vehicles were damaged.

Omar Abdullah canceled programs

After this tragedy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has cancelled the At Home Tea Party scheduled for the 15th. Along with this, he has also cancelled the cultural programmes of the Independence Day celebrations. National Disaster Response Force, Police, State Disaster Response Force, Army and local volunteers are engaged in rescue work. Relief material in the form of search lights, ropes and digging tools is being sent forward.

Home Minister spoke to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister

Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the cloudburst incident in Kishtwar Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the incident. He spoke to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and assured all possible help. The administration is carrying out relief and rescue operations and teams of the National Disaster Response Force have reached the spot. Shah said on 'X' that he spoke to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on the cloudburst incident in Kishtwar district. The local administration is carrying out relief and rescue operations. NDRF teams have immediately reached the spot.