At Least 38 Die as Massive Cloudburst Strikes Village in J&K's Kishtwar; 120 Rescued

So Far — Loss of Lives Extremely Tragic, Says Prez; PM Assures Every Possible Assistance  

PTI, Jammu, Aug 14, 2025: A massive cloudburst struck a remote mountain village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday, killing at least 38 people, including two CISF personnel, officials said. The death toll could go up as more people are believed to be trapped, officials said, adding that 120 people have been rescued so far. Of these, the condition of 38 is said to be serious.

The disaster struck Chositi, the last motorable village en route to Machail Mata temple, between 12 noon and 1 pm. A large number of people had gathered there for the annual Machail Mata yatra, which commenced on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5. The 8.5-kilometre trek to the 9,500-feet-high shrine begins from Chositi. Chositi is about 90 kilometres from Kishtwar town.

A 'langar' (community kitchen) set up for the devotees here bore the brunt of the cloudburst, which led to flash floods and washed away several structures, including shops and a security outpost. The disaster comes nine days after flash floods wreaked havoc in Dharali village of Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district. Though only one person is confirmed dead, 68 people are still reported missing.

Immediately after the calamity struck Chositi on Thursday, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, along with the Senior Superintendent of Police, mobilised rescue teams and headed towards the spot to personally supervise the operations. While a large-scale rescue operation was already launched by the NDRF, SDRF, police, Army, and local volunteers, the authorities have mobilised more rescuers, including two fresh teams of NDRF from Jammu to speed up the rescue efforts, officials said.

Army's White Knight Corps said efforts are on to safeguard lives and aid the survivors. "In the aftermath of a cloudburst at Chisoti (Chositi) village, Kishtwar, troops of White Knight Corps swiftly mobilised for rescue and relief ops (operations). Efforts are centred on safeguarding lives and aiding survivors. Search for missing continues. Relief stores, medical teams and rescue gear rushed to site. We Serve, We Protect," the corps said in an X post.

Officials said the langar was packed with devotees when the calamity struck.

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said the loss of lives due to the cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely tragic and prayed for the success of relief and rescue operations. "The news of several deaths due to a cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely tragic. I express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and pray for the success of relief and rescue operations," the President said in a post on X in Hindi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district and asserted that every possible assistance will be provided to those in need. In a post on X, Modi said: "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."

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said: "A massive cloudburst in Chositi area could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site." Singh said he also spoke to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner on the matter.

The annual yatra to the Machail Mata shrine was suspended following the tragedy as the authorities mobilised all resources for rescue operations at Chositi, officials said. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been rushed from Udhampur to Kishtwar. "Massive rescue operations have been started in the area," said the deputy commissioner, who was on way to the spot. Officials added that the flash floods hit several houses clustered together in the foothills.