Kishtwar Cloudburst: Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir – The pilgrimage to Machail Mata for pilgrims on Thursday morning suddenly turned into a scene of death and destruction. A massive cloudburst in the Chashoti area of the Paddar area created panic in the entire area. The accident took place on the holy route that takes thousands of pilgrims to the Machail Mata temple every year.
Authorities fear that at least 10 people have lost their lives in the incident, though official figures are yet to be out. The sudden downpour of water and debris from the mountains destroyed the route, causing people to run to higher altitudes to save their lives.
Eyewitness and first aid
According to locals, the sky suddenly turned dark, and then the deluge of water descended with a loud roar. “We only heard the sound of rushing water and then saw everything flowing,” a villager said in a panicked voice.
As soon as the administration got information about the incident, rescue teams were rushed to the spot. Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh also immediately spoke to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma over the phone. He wrote on the social media platform ‘X’ that he had received information about the seriousness of the incident from the Leader of Opposition and local MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma.
Union Minister’s confidence
Talking to the media, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, “This is the main route of Machail Mata Yatra, and the cloudburst incident has happened on a very large scale. We fear heavy loss of life.” He informed that arrangements are being made to take the injured to the hospital by helicopter, and all possible assistance will be given.
Condolence message of the Lieutenant Governor
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also expressed deep grief. He wrote on ‘X’, “I am saddened by the cloudburst incident in Chashoti of Kishtwar. Condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.” He directed the administration, police, army, NDRF, and SDRF to speed up relief and rescue operations and provide immediate help to the affected people.
Monsoon wreaks havoc in hill states
This accident has happened at a time when heavy monsoon rains are occurring across the country, and the hill states are the worst affected. Cloudbursts, landslides, and floods have caused heavy devastation in Uttarakhand in recent days.
The road was closed due to a landslide in Nandprayag in Chamoli district, the work of opening which is going on. At the same time, many houses were washed away in Dharali and Harsil villages due to a cloudburst and flash flood in Uttarkashi on August 5. The broken bridge was also immediately rebuilt to deliver relief material and machinery to the affected areas.
Increasing dangers and warnings
Experts are constantly warning that the Himalayan region has become more vulnerable due to climate change. Sudden and intense rains, i.e., cloudburst incidents, have now become more common than before. The danger is even greater for the devotees traveling on the hill pilgrimage routes, as these routes often pass along the banks of rivers and steep slopes.
Kishtwar’s struggle and hope
As dusk falls, rescue workers are still searching for the missing amid debris and gushing waters. Families are anxiously awaiting news, while prayers echo through the valleys. For now, the priority is on relief and rescue work, but this tragedy once again raises the question of whether we are adequately prepared to deal with disasters in the hills.
Kishtwar is today mourning its lost loved ones and is getting ready to go through a long process of reconstruction and rehabilitation in the days to come. The Machail Mata Yatra will continue to live in the hearts of devotees, but the memories of this rainy season tragedy will remain forever.