In the wake of recent disasters in Dharali of Uttarakhand and Kullu and Manali of Himachal Pradesh, the Chositi village in Jammu & Kashmir's Kishtwar district has now fallen prey to a devastating cloudburst. This calamity has claimed 46 lives, left 160 injured, and over 220 people are still missing. The casualties include two CISF personnel. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has informed Amit Shah about the situation. Rescuers are tirelessly working round the clock to save lives trapped beneath debris or in perilous conditions. The rescue operation is in full swing, although rain and mud are presenting formidable obstacles.
In the aftermath of the cloudburst, catastrophic floods and debris wreaked havoc. Near the disaster site, bloodied bodies lay scattered. Hospitals are overwhelmed with crowds. The army, police, and local people are heroically carrying the injured through mud to reach medical facilities. Many survivors are in shock, unable to comprehend the calamity that befell them.
BJP leader and opposition leader in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, conveyed to PTI that the situation in Chositi is dire. Chositi, serving as the base camp for the Machail Yatra, is engulfed in destruction and death, with fears of the death toll climbing in the coming days.
Administrative Response
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah mentioned that he has communicated the details of the event in Chositi to Home Minister Amit Shah. However, it takes time to confirm information from the affected areas. Resources are being mobilized from across the state and beyond for rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the incident, saying, "My condolences and prayers are with the people affected by the cloudburst and floods in Kishtwar. I am closely monitoring the situation." Jammu & Kashmir Governor Manoj Sinha also conveyed his condolences and wished a swift recovery for the injured.
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Chaos in Hospitals
The images and videos from hospitals vividly depict the calamity's horror. In many hospitals, patients are being treated on the floor due to bed shortages.
Source: aajtak
Bodies Draped in White, Grief-Stricken Village
Chositi and surrounding villages are steeped in mourning. People are making every effort to locate their loved ones. Bodies wrapped in white shrouds have lined roadsides before being sent to the hospital.
The families unable to find their loved ones appear distraught. Kishtwar MLA, Shugan Parihar, offered solace to those, including women and children, trying to cope with the tragic loss.
Woman Thanks Indian Army
In an interaction with news agency ANI, a woman expressed, "I am deeply grateful to the Indian Army for saving me. I never imagined I would survive."
Calamity Strikes Amid Machail Yatra
This village serves as the base camp for the Machail Mata Yatra, and the disaster struck between 12 to 1 PM on Thursday. At that time, the area was bustling with devotees. The sudden flood and debris swept away homes, shops, and vehicles.
Even vehicles parked at security camps and bus stands were engulfed by water. Miraculously, a temple in the village’s center survived the deluge. However, the flooding swept away the community kitchen and several shops, causing significant damage to vehicles at the bus stand.
