Devastating cloudburst kills 33 and injures 120 as torrent tears through town

Daily Mirror

5 days ago

Officials expect the death toll to climb after at least 33 people were killed when a cloudburst struck a remote pilgrimage town in India's Jammu and Kashmir region
At least 33 people are dead and more than 120 injured after a cloudburst hit a remote Indian village.
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A cloudburst, which typically occurs in mountainous regions, is a sudden and intense localised downpour that happens within a short period of time. In some places, as much as four inches of rain can fall in an hour, leading to flash flooding and landslides.
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The freak natural event happened along a pilgrimage trail in Chositi, a village in the Himalayan mountain range of Jammu and Kashmir this afternoon, with more than 220 people reported missing.
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The death toll continues to climb as Indian officials say they expect more fatalities with rescuers searching the area for survivors. At the time of writing, 65 people have been rescued, according to local media.
The sudden burst lead to massive flash floods and destroyed buildings, with rescuers now racing to find survivors and evacuate those not swept away or trapped by the torrents.
Terrifying footage has emerged from the site near the Mata Chandi shrine, where pilgrims were making their way to worship the revered Hindu goddess.
The clips show rescue workers and local officials evacuating pilgrims from the starting point of the procession trail.
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Another video shows authorities telling people to move to safety as the raging torrents cascade down the mountain.
Local politician Omar Abdullah said the government has been briefed about the situation, admitting that it took too long for local authorities to receive verified information about the cloudburst.
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He said: "All possible resources are being mobilised from within and beyond Jammu and Kashmir to manage the rescue operations".
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to those whose lives were lost.
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He said: "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."
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Another politician, Jitendra Singh, said the country is expecting "substantial casualties" after the cloudburst incident.
'The administration has immediately swung into action, and the rescue team has left for the site. Damage evacuation and necessary rescue and medical management arrangements are being made.' Mr Singh said.
Cloudbursts happen when warm air rises too quickly over mountains, where it then rapidly cools and turns into heavy rain. They can also be caused by the sudden collision of hot and cold air, or a strong upward movement of air.