Faces soaked in blood, bodies battered, Kishtwar's cloudburst nightmare in pictures

India Today

a day ago

Muddied faces covered with blood, signs of physical injuries, and deeper mental trauma — which will take longer to heal — were evident in visuals of those rescued after ash floods triggered by a cloudburst devastated Chositi village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday.With over 1,000 people estimated to have been at the cloudburst site, the Army, disaster relief forces, and locals are racing against time to pull the injured from piles of slush and rocks and rush them to hospitals.Many victims were unaware of what had befallen them.advertisementAt least 44 people, including two CISF personnel, have died, officials said. The toll is expected to rise as rescue teams uncover more victims. So far, 167 people have been rescued, with 38 in critical condition.
The cloudburst has thrown the remote village into chaos, as mudslides and flash floods devastated homes and infrastructure. Rescue teams are working around the clock to locate and assist survivors, battling treacherous terrain and adverse weather conditions.Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has been actively overseeing the rescue operations. He reassured the affected families, stating, "I want to assure all the affected families that the Government stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of crisis." He has also coordinated with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured all possible assistance from the central government. The commitment to aid is unwavering as efforts intensify.The Army and police have joined local residents in the rescue efforts, carrying injured individuals on their backs through the mud-ridden terrain to hospitals. BJP leader Sunil Sharma described the situation as dire, stating, "The catastrophe is widespread in Chositi, the base camp for the Machail Yatra. You can see devastation, deaths and injuries everywhere. It is the worst situation, and the death toll could rise."Medical facilities in the area are overwhelmed, with patients being treated on the floor due to bed shortages. Medical staff from nearby regions are assisting at Atholi Hospital, where injuries include broken ribs and limbs. As one medical staff noted, "Most have severe injuries — some to the chest, some on the head, others on the legs." The medical teams are doing their utmost to provide care under these difficult circumstances.The cloudburst unleashed a torrent of water and debris, sweeping away vehicles and destroying a community kitchen set up for pilgrims. A pilgrim from Jammu recounted, "It was a sudden cloudburst. We had left the shop close to langar (community kitchen) and had walked almost a kilometre when hell broke out. Flash flood decimated everything that came in their way. Within minutes, langar disappeared."advertisementDeputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary acknowledged the disaster's timing, coming just ahead of Independence Day celebrations, and said, "...This is a major incident of cloudburst... There has been a huge loss and as far as casualty is concerned, I won't be able to give you an exact number; the numbers shouldn't be wrong. We have received some information but I will not disclose it right now. As far as the injured are concerned, it is around 98-100. Government is making all efforts to rescue the injured and help them."The Air Force has been alerted for evacuation support, with Sinha emphasising a coordinated response involving the civil administration, police, Army, the state and national disaster relief forces.Reiterating the government's commitment to providing all necessary assistance, Sinha said, "Anguished by cloudburst in Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families and prayers for quick recovery of injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF & SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue and relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected."The affected area remains a scene of distress and urgency, as rescue personnel work tirelessly to locate and assist any remaining survivors. The Lieutenant Governor continues to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that all possible resources are deployed to support the community in this hour of need.- EndsMust Watch