Chositi, Kishtwar (J&K), August 14 — A catastrophic cloudburst in Chositi village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district has claimed at least 46 lives, leaving dozens injured and many still missing, as rescue teams battle thick mud, boulders and debris in the remote mountain terrain.
The disaster struck early Thursday, triggering flash floods and landslides that engulfed homes, shops, and pathways in the base camp of the Machail Yatra pilgrimage. Among the dead are two personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Officials fear the toll could rise further as several people remain trapped beneath layers of mud and stone.
Over 160 people have been rescued so far, with 38 reported to be in critical condition. The injured are suffering from horrific wounds — broken ribs, deep cuts filled with grit, mud-filled lungs, and blunt-force trauma from rocks and debris. Many victims, including pilgrims and security personnel, were pulled out after hours of frantic digging by locals, police, and Army teams. In several cases, the injured had to be carried on the rescuers’ backs to the nearest hospitals due to the blocked and damaged routes.
“The catastrophe is widespread in Chositi. You can see devastation, deaths, and injuries everywhere. It is the worst situation, and the death toll could rise,” said BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma, who visited the site.
The cloudburst has left behind scenes of unimaginable horror — blood-stained bodies caked in mud, shattered homes, and survivors in shock, unable to comprehend the speed with which the mountain fury swept through their village. With weather conditions still unstable and the terrain treacherous, rescue operations continue in a race against time.
Authorities have set up relief camps for displaced residents, and medical teams are working round the clock to treat the injured. The state administration has also sought additional support from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian Air Force to expedite evacuation and aid delivery.
As night falls over Chositi, the haunting silence is broken only by the sounds of digging and the cries of those still searching for missing loved ones.
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