Malayali mountaineer stuck on Mount Denali in US
Hassan embarked on the Denali expedition with a fellow climber from Tamil Nadu, aiming to raise the national flag in tribute to the Indian Army's Operation Sindoor.
However, adverse conditions, including strong winds, have delayed their progress, and they got stuck at Camp 5 of Mount Denali.
His desperate message, shared on Twitter by a user, called for prayers and urgent intervention.
'I am on an expedition to Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America. We are stuck in a severe storm at 17,000 feet with less food and water to survive. Only God can help us now. Please ask all to pray,' the message read. Responding swiftly, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to Twitter, tagging External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, for immediate assistance.
'I've alerted @DrSJaishankar and his team. I am also tagging @IndianEmbassyUS to please help. Stay Safe,' tweeted Chandrasekhar.
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Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
46 people killed in massive cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, rescue operations underway
46 people were killed, and 167 others were rescued from mounds of rubble after a massive cloudburst led to flashfloods in Chositi in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday. Flash floods tore through the densely populated foothill hamlet, damaging several homes and even forcing authorities to halt the annual yatra to the Machail Mata shrine. Kishtwar, Aug 14 (ANI): Rescue operations are underway after a flash flood at the Chashoti area following a cloud burst, in Kishtwar on Thursday. (ANI Video Grab) The disaster marks the second major flood-related tragedy in India this month. The cloudburst struck around 12 noon to 1pm. Officials received news of the calamity around 11:30 am, after which SDRF, rescue teams were deployed at the site. Indian Army, Navy, Air Force teams were also activated, said Jammu's Divisional Commissioner. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as 'grim' in an official statement, confirming that a cloudburst was responsible for the flooding. Viral videos of the cloudburst captured torrents of muddy water, silt, and debris racing down the steep slopes, obliterating everything in their path. Houses crumpled like a pack of cards, while boulders crashed down, blocking roads and hampering rescue efforts. The once lush green landscape was left smothered in a bleak brown-grey. Omar Abdullah shared helpline numbers as the death toll from the cloudburst continued to rise. The August 15 'at home' tea party at the CM's residence, and other cultural events in the Union Territory planned for Independence Day, have been cancelled in the light of the tragedy. The formal events - speech, march past, will however, go ahead as planned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences stating that 'every possible assistance will be provided to those in need'. Earlier in the day, Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Lt Gov Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take stock of the situation. If 10 centimetres rainfall is received at a station in one hour, the rain event is termed as cloudburst. This sudden discharge of large amount of water not only leads to human casualties but also loss of property.
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First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
Kishtwar cloudburst: Why is Jammu and Kashmir vulnerable to such disasters?
Over 30 people are dead and several are injured after a cloudburst hit a remote mountain village in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. It triggered flash floods, which swept away a langar and structures at Chashoti village. J&K is prone to natural disasters, including landslides and earthquakes. But why? Damaged structures and uprooted trees at an area after a massive cloudburst at Chasoti village, in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, August 14, 2025. PTI Days after Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir reported a cloudburst that triggered flash floods. At least 30 people died and dozens of others were injured on Thursday (August 14) when a massive cloudburst struck a remote mountain village in the Kishtwar district. The tragedy occurred at Chashoti, the last motorable village en route to the Machail Mata temple, earlier in the day. The incident has once again sparked concerns about such disasters that leave a trail of death and destruction. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Let's take a closer look. What is a cloudburst? A cloudburst is a sudden, intense downpour of rain that occurs over a small area in a short period. An event is defined as a cloudburst when rainfall of about 10 cm or above per hour is recorded over a place nearly 10 km x 10 km in area. Cloudbursts are more common in mountainous regions during monsoons. At higher altitudes, moisture-laden clouds are unable to generate rain owing to the upward movement of a very warm current of air. This air current carries raindrops upwards. As they rise, new drops are formed and existing ones grow in size. When the raindrops become too heavy for the cloud to hold, they drop down suddenly at once. Ruchit Kulkarni, an Indian meteorologist studying extreme rainfall at the University of Melbourne, told The Guardian that in the Himalayan foothills, moisture that often comes from the Arabian Sea to the west is swept up by mountains in a phenomenon known as orographic lift. This forms cumulonimbus clouds that can accumulate large rain droplets. 'So we have this moist airflow being lifted up and the cloud gets bigger and bigger and with no chance to have rainfall, it becomes so heavy that at a point, it starts bursting,' explained Kulkarni. This sudden, heavy rain released due to a cloudburst can quickly overwhelm drainage systems in hilly areas, triggering flash floods and landslides. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What happened in J&K's Kishtwar? At least 38 people, including two Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, lost their lives after a cloudburst hit the remote mountain village of Chashoti in J&K's Kishtwar district. The death toll could increase, officials have warned, as per PTI. Reports say that 120 people have been rescued, of whom 38 are in serious condition. The cloudburst sparked flash floods at Chashoti village, where many devotees had gathered for the annual Machail Mata yatra. VIDEO | Kishtwar, Himachal Pradesh: Massive cloudburst hits the region; visuals show extensive damage and panic in affected areas. (Full video available on PTI Videos - — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2025 The 8.5-kilometre trek to the 9,500-feet-high temple begins from this village, which is about 90 kilometres from Kishtwar town. Flash floods washed away several structures, including shops and a security outpost. A langar (community kitchen) set up for the devotees witnessed the brunt of the disaster. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rescue operations are underway, with teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, Indian Army and local volunteers on the ground. Army's White Knight Corps said efforts are on to safeguard lives and help the survivors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were among those to express anguish over the tragedy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and CM Abdullah, assuring 'all possible assistance'. ALSO READ: How flash floods wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand village Why is J&K vulnerable? Jammu and Kashmir's topography makes it prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, avalanches, and snowstorms. The region has also seen a rise in instances of cloudbursts and flash floods in recent years. As per a Greater Kashmir report, the melting of glaciers has led to the formation of glacial lakes in the mountain ranges of Kashmir. As temperatures increase due to global warming, there is an enhanced risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF). The Himalayas are warming, which has caused erratic weather patterns in the region. In Jammu and Kashmir, this makes communities and infrastructure more prone to cryosphere-related hazards, the report noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The problem could be more devastating if cloudbursts were reported near glacial lakes. Cloudbursts can trigger flash floods in these lakes. Moreover, the Glacial Lake Outburst Floods would severely impact downstream populations due to the sudden outburst of glacial lakes. With inputs from agencies
The Wire
5 hours ago
- The Wire
J&K: At Least 20 Feared Dead, Many Missing After Suspected Cloudburst in Kishtwar
Srinagar: At least 20 people are feared dead, 100 are believed to be missing and several dozen have suffered injuries after a suspected cloudburst struck a hilly village Thursday, August 14, in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, locals and officials told The Wire. A weather event, believed to be a cloudburst, was reported from Chishoti village in the hilly Padder sub-division of Kishtwar, which falls on the way to the Machail Mata temple between 11 and 12 pm on Thursday. Reports said that a large number of pilgrims had gathered in Chishoti to embark on a nine-kilometre hike to the sacred Hindu temple, about nine km away in Machail area, when the incident happened. The ongoing pilgrimage attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees every year. Several tents and a community kitchen had been set up in the village to cater to the pilgrims which are reported to have borne the brunt of the cloudburst that triggered massive flash floods. Speaking to local reporters, senior J&K BJP leader Sunil Sharma said that at least 20 dead bodies have been pulled out from the debris while dozens are injured. A video from the scene of the incident showed panicked residents urging each other to pull back as a massive mudslide cascades down into a narrow gorge. Another video showed dozens of private cars parked along a road on a hill while the civilians and pilgrims are seen running barefoot for their lives. Kishtwar is a hilly district in Chenab valley of Jammu and home to several hydro power projects which have been constructed despite warnings by climate scientists and activists that they will spell environmental catastrophe. Chishoti is situated in the foothills of the towering mountains that encircle Kishtwar, Doda and Reasi districts of Chenab valley. Witnesses said that local administration and police were struggling to carry out the rescue operations. The army has also been called in to help in evacuating the injured. Bodies of the deceased and the injured have been taken to sub district hospital in Athola Padder. Union home minister Amit Shah said that the government was in touch with J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah about the emergency situation in Kishtwar. 'The local administration is conducting relief and rescue operations. NDRF teams have promptly been rushed to the site. We are closely monitoring the situation and stand firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir through every situation. Assured of all possible assistance to the people in need,' he said on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with the people affected in the weather event. In a post on X, Modi wrote, '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.' Meanwhile, J&K chief minister said that he spoke about the 'grim news' from Kishtwar with Shah. 'All possible resources are being mobilised from within & beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations. I'm not going to be speaking to channels or news agencies. The government will share information as & when possible,' Abdullah posted on X. Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, 'Deeply anguished by the tragic cloudburst in Chashoti, Kishtwar, which has resulted in multiple casualties and widespread distress. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.' In a post on X, senior BJP leader and Union minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke with the deputy commissioner of Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma regarding the incident. 'Massive cloud burst in Chishoti area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site. Damage evaluation and necessary rescue and medical management arrangements are being made. My office is receiving regular updates, all possible assistance will be provided,' Singh said.
