Viral videos capture chilling moments as cloudburst hits Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar village
Viral videos on social media captured chilling scenes with cars stuck in floodwaters, muddy gusts of water swallowing what were earlier stretches of lush green land.
Flash floods tore through the densely populated foothill hamlet, damaging several homes and forcing authorities to halt the annual yatra to the Machail Mata shrine.
Chasoti is the last motorable village on the way to the Machail Mata temple, from where begins the 8.5 km trek to the shrine.
Another clip showed cars lined up along the roadside while people cautiously made their way across a bridge, with floodwaters roaring beneath the bridge.
Not just the videos, but multiple images from news wires revealed the harrowing destruction as locals also helped with the rescue efforts.
Officials, according to PTI, said 98 people have been rescued so far, of which 28 people are in serious condition. 100 injured, 98 people rescued
The news of cloudburst reached officials around 11:30 am after which SDRF, local police, other teams reached the spot, said Jammu's Divisional Commissioner. Search, rescue operations are underway, and the Army, Navy, Air Force teams had also been informed, the commissioner told ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths, and stated that 'every possible assistance will be provided to those in need.'
The Army said that relief stores, medical teams and rescue gear have been rushed to the site.
Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah had briefed Amit Shah about the situation. He stated that the 'news is grim and accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloud burst is slow in arriving.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to X to announce that cancelled 'cultural events during Independence Day celebrations on Friday, and 'At Home' tea party has been cancelled 'in light of the tragedy caused by the cloudburst.'
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