Cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir triggers flood-like situation on Machail Mata Yatra route; several community kitchens affected, 10 feared dead.
Jammu Kashmir Cloudburst: A cloudburst in Chishoti village of Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir, on Thursday is feared to have caused widespread devastation. This area is located on the Machail Mata Yatra route. The sudden disaster has disrupted the pilgrimage route and created flood-like conditions in several places. Initial reports suggest that at least 10 people are feared dead in the incident, although official confirmation is still awaited.
Incident Amidst Heavy Morning Rain
Several districts of the Jammu division experienced heavy rain on Thursday morning. It was during this period, around 12 noon, that a cloudburst in the Chishoti area led to a sudden flash flood. This is the same location from where the famous Machail Mata Yatra begins. The heavy rain and cloudburst caused a surge in the water flow, creating chaos in the area. Local residents and pilgrims rushed to safer locations to save their lives.
Damage to Community Kitchens
Several community kitchens (langars) are set up in Chishoti during the Machail Mata Yatra. At the time of the incident, water entered many of these langars, and there are reports of some langar tents and supplies being washed away. According to local sources, one langar was completely swept away in the flood. However, there has been no official confirmation of any casualties among the people present in these langars.
Swift Action by Administration
The District Magistrate of Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar, stated that as soon as the information about the cloudburst was received, the administration immediately dispatched rescue teams to the spot. He said that the situation is being assessed and relief and rescue operations are being carried out rapidly in the affected areas.
Reactions from Union Minister and Local Leaders
Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Udhampur-Doda, Dr. Jitendra Singh, contacted the District Magistrate of Kishtwar as soon as he received information about the incident. He said that heavy losses are expected due to the floods, and instructions have been given to the local administration to carry out all possible rescue and relief operations. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, also contacted the district administration immediately and asked them to take stock of the situation.
Impact on Machail Mata Yatra
The Machail Mata Yatra is a religious route to the Machail Mata temple located in the Pader region of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir. Every year, millions of devotees from all over the country participate in this yatra. The yatra was currently underway, but the route has been disrupted due to the cloudburst and floods. According to local people, the flood has damaged several parts of the yatra route, and some bridges have also been washed away.
Deployment of NDRF and SDRF
Along with the local administration, police, army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are also engaged in the rescue operation. Work is underway to deliver relief material to the affected areas and evacuate stranded people to safety. The administration has appealed to people not to pay attention to rumors and to stay in safe places.
Condolences from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha
The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, expressed grief over the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He also directed the civil administration, police, army, NDRF, and SDRF officials to expedite the relief and rescue operations.
