Dozens dead in flash floods on popular Himalayas pilgrimage route
The flooding took place in the remote village of Chositi in Kishtwar district, which is on a busy pilgrimage route to a famous shrine in the Himalayas.
Videos shared online showed dramatic flood waters, vehicles being washed away and rescuers searching for survivors in damaged homes, as people cried in the streets – some caked in mud.
Dozens of pilgrims have been evacuated to safety, but at least 50 people are feared missing, and a rescue operation is still under way.
The floods were triggered by a cloudburst, officials said, with Federal Minister Jitendra Singh, who is also an MP from Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was on a "massive scale" and rescue teams were finding it difficult to reach the site.
A road had been washed away, he said, and the weather was not safe enough for helicopters.
He expects the incident to result in a substantial number of casualties. A resident of nearby Atholi village told news agency AFP he saw "at least 15 dead bodies" being brought into the local hospital.
A large community kitchen where visiting pilgrims were eating lunch was completely washed away, an official told Reuters news agency.
The region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as a "tragedy", announcing he was cancelling some of the cultural activities planned for Friday's Indian Independence Day celebrations.
The news was "grim", he said, with accurate, verified information from the area "slow in arriving", but all available resources were being mobilised to manage the rescue operations.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "every possible assistance" would be available to those who need it.
India's northern region has seen very heavy rainfall in recent days, triggering flash floods in several areas.
Last week, nearly half of the village of Dharali, in Uttarakhand state, was submerged after it was hit by a massive flash flood. On Tuesday, officials said that 66 people were still missing and only one body had been recovered. – BBC
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
13 hours ago
- Leaders
Netanyahu Has Become a ‘Problem in Himself': Danish PM
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become 'now a problem in himself,' according to AFP. Considering Political, Trade Pressure During an interview with the Jyllands-Posten daily, Frederiksen stated that she would try to put pressure on Israel to put an immediate end to the Gaza war as Denmark currently holds the EU presidency. She also condemned the 'absolutely appalling and catastrophic' humanitarian situation in Gaza and new settlement project in the occupied West Bank. 'We are one of the countries that wants to increase pressure on Israel, but we have not yet obtained the support of EU members,' she added. Crucially, Frederiksen also noted that she intended to explore options for 'political pressure and sanctions — whether targeting settlers, ministers, or even Israel as a whole — including measures related to trade and research.' 'We are not ruling anything out in advance. Just as with Russia, we are designing the sanctions to target where we believe they will have the greatest effect,' she added. Gaza War Currently, Israel is facing regional and international pressure to put an end to its war in the Palestinian enclave and allow the delivery of more aid. At the same time, the Israeli government has been facing harsh criticism from countries, nations, and individuals who considered the war as a genocide or ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 61,499 Palestinians and wounded over 152,800, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Dozens of Gazans including children have lost their souls due to malnutrition throughout the war that caused unthinkable humanitarian conditions. Related Topics: American Artist Heads Protest against Israeli War in Gaza 'Do Not Forget Gaza': The Final Will of Anas Al-Sharif Al Jazeera Holds Vigil for Journalists Killed in Gaza Airstrike Short link : Post Views: 4
Leaders
13 hours ago
- Leaders
China Rejects European Sanctions over Iran's Nuclear Program
China said on Friday it 'opposes invoking' sanctions on Iranian Nuclear Program and 'believes that it does not help parties build trust and bridge differences,' according to AFP. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated that imposing sanctions 'is not conducive to the diplomatic effort for the early resumption of talks.' On Thursday, Iran announced it was working with both China and Russia to stop the snapback of European sanctions. This move came after the foreign ministers from the E3 group — Britain, France and Germany, told the United Nations that they would reimpose them if Iran does not reach a diplomatic solution by the end of August. 'We will try to prevent it,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state TV on Thursday. No Moral or Legal Ground to Reactivate Snapback Sanctions In July, Araqchi told his European counterparts that they have no moral or legal grounds for reactivating UN sanctions, according to Al Arabiya. Araqchi's remarks come after Europeans threatened to do so in coming months if there is no progress in nuclear talks. 'If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the 'snap-back' for which they (have) absolutely no moral (or) legal grounds,' Araghchi said on X. He also noted Tehran is ready for a new round of talks if the other side is willing to reach 'a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.' In June, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the Europeans would be 'justified' in pursuing a snapback of UN sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers. The speculation about Tehran's nuclear program has been increasing since Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13. The US became directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran on June 22 after launching airstrikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Related Topics: IAEA to Visit Iran Within Next Two Weeks Iran Says Any Future Talks Should Hold US Accountable for Nuclear Site Attacks US Has Bank of Potential Military Targets in Iran: Col. Dahouk Short link : Post Views: 4
Al Arabiya
18 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Gaza civil defense says Israeli attacks kill 22
Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli attacks killed at least 22 people on Saturday, warning that intensifying strikes on a Gaza City neighborhood were placing its remaining residents in mortal danger. Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal said conditions in the Zeitun neighborhood were rapidly deteriorating with residents having little to no access to food and water amid heavy Israeli bombardment. He said that about 50,000 people are estimated to be in that area of Gaza City, 'the majority of whom are without food or water' and lacking 'the basic necessities of life.' Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swaths of the Palestinian territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defense agency, the Israeli military and other sources. In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent airstrikes targeting residential areas, including in Zeitun, while earlier this week militant group Hamas denounced 'aggressive' Israeli ground incursions. To Bassal, Israel was carrying out 'ethnic cleansing' in Zeitun. Israeli officials have dismissed similar accusations before, and the military insists it abides by international law. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet approved plans to seize Gaza City, one of the most densely populated parts of the territory which has been devastated by more than 22 months of war. On Friday, the Israeli military said its troops were operating in Zeitun. Ghassan Kashko, 40, who shelters with his family at a school building in the neighborhood, said: 'We don't know the taste of sleep.' He said airstrikes and tank shelling were causing 'explosions... that don't stop.' The Israeli plan to expand the war has sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition. UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in. According to the civil defense agency, at least 13 of the Palestinians killed on Saturday were shot by troops as they were waiting to collect food aid near distribution sites in the north and in the south. The war was triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable.
