Kishtwar Cloudburst Claims 56 Lives, Hundreds Rescued as PM Modi Assures All Support

Jammu, Aug 2025 : At least 56 people, including two personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), have been confirmed dead after a massive cloudburst struck Chashoti village near the Machail Mata Shrine in Kishtwar district on Thursday morning. The disaster triggered flash floods and debris flow, sweeping away makeshift structures, a community kitchen serving pilgrims, and a security post.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, assuring all possible assistance for the victims. “I just received a call from Hon PM @narendramodi Sb. I briefed him about the situation in Kishtwar & the steps being taken by the administration. My government & the people hit by this tragic cloudburst are grateful for his support & all the assistance provided by the Union Government,” the Chief Minister posted on X.

Officials confirmed that over 300 people have been rescued so far, several of them seriously injured, while approximately 250 remain missing. The tragedy struck around 11:30 a.m., when hundreds of pilgrims were present in the village — the last motorable point before the high-altitude shrine.

Witnesses said a sudden surge of water engulfed a community kitchen hosting nearly 200 pilgrims and washed away tents and temporary shelters. Security installations nearby also suffered damage. The annual Machail Mata Yatra, which attracts thousands of devotees every August, has been suspended until further notice.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the scale of the disaster could result in further casualties. Rescue operations have been mounted by the Civil Administration, Police, Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). However, heavy rainfall and washed-out roads have limited air operations, forcing teams to carry out most evacuations on foot.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed all agencies to intensify rescue and relief efforts, providing every possible form of aid to the affected. Control rooms and helpline numbers have been activated to help locate missing persons.

Due to the magnitude of the tragedy, Independence Day celebrations across several parts of Jammu and Kashmir were scaled down to only flag hoisting and the singing of the national anthem.

Rescue teams, aided by local volunteers, continue to comb riverbanks downstream from the site in search of missing persons. Health facilities have been bolstered to handle the influx of casualties. At Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Paddar, 13 additional doctors and 31 paramedics have been deployed. Senior health officials are stationed on-site to coordinate operations. District Hospital (DH) Kishtwar has been strengthened with extra General Surgeons, Orthopaedic Surgeons, and Anaesthetists from Government Medical College (GMC) Doda.

In anticipation of critical cases, tertiary care institutions have been placed on high alert. A specialist team at Doda has been readied to handle referrals from Kishtwar. GMC Jammu is operating in full emergency mode, with 50 dedicated disaster beds, 20 ventilator-equipped beds, and five operating theatres prepared for use. Specialist teams, including Orthopaedicians, Neurosurgeons, Critical Care Anaesthetists, and Maxillofacial Surgeons, are on standby.

The GMC Jammu Blood Bank has been stocked with over 200 units of blood to meet any sudden demand. In addition, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh has dispatched a team of Critical Care Specialists and Neurosurgeons to reinforce medical capacities in Jammu.

A large fleet of 65 ambulances, sourced from the Health Department, NHPC, Army, CRPF, and the J&K Health and Medical Education Department’s 108 Emergency Service, has been deployed for swift rescue and patient transfers.

Officials warn that the death toll could rise as many remote areas remain inaccessible. The focus remains on tracing the missing, providing urgent medical aid, and restoring connectivity to the disaster-hit region.