At least 33 people, including two CISF jawans, died on Thursday after a massive cloudburst hit Chositi village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district. The disaster triggered flash floods and caused large-scale destruction. Over 120 people sustained injuries, and more than 220 remain missing.
Disaster Hits During Pilgrimage
The cloudburst struck along the Machail Mata Yatra route to the Himalayan shrine of Mata Chandi. Within minutes, floods swept through the area, leaving the pilgrimage trail in chaos. The sudden surge trapped many pilgrims and washed away sections of the path.
Rescue Teams Race Against Time
Rescue teams rushed to the site within hours. They launched large-scale operations to find survivors and evacuate the trapped. Authorities quickly mobilised resources from across Jammu and Kashmir and beyond.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the crisis. He explained that reports from the affected zone arrived slowly but assured that “all possible resources are being mobilised from within and beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations.” He added that the government would release updates when available and would not engage with the media directly for now.
#BREAKING: Kishtwar Cloudburst and Flash Floods, Rescue Operation are underway. #Kishtwar #IndianArmy #JammuAndKashmir
— Utkarsh Chauhan (@utkarshc117) August 14, 2025
pic.twitter.com/pyoCF1nX6V
PM Modi and Leaders Offer Support
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow and pledged assistance. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The situation is being monitored closely. Rescue and relief operations are underway. Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need,” he said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh warned that the incident near the shrine “could result in substantial casualties.” He said he contacted Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma after receiving an urgent alert from LoP Jammu and Kashmir and local MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma. “The administration has immediately swung into action, and the rescue team has left for the site. Damage evacuation and necessary rescue and medical management arrangements are being made,” he stated.
Governor Orders Stronger Relief Measures
J&K Governor Manoj Sinha said he felt deep anguish over the tragedy. “Condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the quick recovery of the injured,” he said. He directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF teams to intensify rescue and relief work and ensure full support for the victims. A satellite image taken on Thursday morning showed heavy cloud cover over the disaster site shortly before the cloudburst.