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A devastating cloudburst triggered flash floods in J&K’s Kishtwar, claiming 10 lives. NDRF, Army & local admin conduct rescue ops as Met warns of more rains. Machail Yatra route affected. LG announces relief while experts call for better Himalayan disaster preparedness.
Cloudburst Havoc in Kishtwar
Kishtwar: A horrific cloudburst incident took place in the Chashoti area of the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, in which the death of 10 people has been confirmed so far. After this natural disaster, sudden floods have wreaked havoc in the entire area, due to which heavy loss of life and property is feared. Local administration, NDRF, and army teams have started relief and rescue work.
Reaction of administration and leaders
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that after receiving information about this incident from Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, he immediately contacted DC Pankaj Kumar Sharma of Kishtwar. He said that rescue teams have been immediately sent to the spot and the damage is being assessed.
Sunil Sharma (MLA and Leader of Opposition) expressed concern and said that there has been heavy destruction in the area and demanded deployment of NDRF teams.
The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir expressed condolences and directed all agencies to expedite relief work. He said that the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local administration are jointly helping the affected.
Weather Department's warning
The Srinagar Meteorological Center has issued a warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and landslides in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir during the next 4-6 hours. There is a danger of cloudburst and flash flood, especially in the hilly areas of Kupwara, Baramulla, Srinagar, Doda, and Kishtwar. The Meteorological Department has advised people to be cautious and not travel around rivers or lakes.
What happened in Chashoti?
The Chashoti area, which is the starting point of the Machail Mata Yatra, was hit by a flash flood after a cloudburst. This has caused huge losses to travelers and local residents. DC Pankaj Sharma said that rescue operations have been started, but relief work is facing challenges due to the inaccessible terrain.
Need for disaster management
This incident once again highlights the danger of cloudbursts and flash floods in the Himalayan regions. The government should not only focus on quick relief work but also prepare to deal with such disasters by making long-term plans. At present, helping the affected and searching for the missing people is the priority.
