Cloudburst Catastrophe in Kishtwar: A Community's Resilience

The search for missing victims continued for a seventh consecutive day in the cloudburst-stricken village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. Led by Principal Secretary, Home, Chandraker Bharti, the rescue operation involves various agencies, as 65 fatalities and 39 missing persons are yet to be accounted for.

The calamity struck on August 14 during the Machail Mata pilgrimage, devastating the area's infrastructure. Rescuers are working tirelessly along a 22-km stretch utilizing heavy machinery and sniffer dogs to locate the missing. They are assisted by police, army, and various emergency response teams.

In coordination meetings, officials stress a synchronized response to effectively manage rescue efforts. With disrupted religious activities, including the annual yatra, the focus remains on immediate relief for affected families and reconstruction efforts, including building essential infrastructure like the Bailey bridge over Chisoti nullah.

(With inputs from agencies.)