Machail Mata yatris were gathered for langar when flash floods hit: What we know on disaster after Kishtwar cloudburst
Triggered reportedly by a cloudburst, the flash floods claimed at least 37 lives, deputy commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma told HT. More than 100 people are injured, while more than 60 have so far been rescued, officials added. The death toll is likely to rise as rescue efforts are hindered by continuous rain.
The disaster took place by the banks of Chishoti Nullah, a rivulet, a stopover on the popular pilgrimage route to the temple in Padder area. The pilgrimage began on July 25 this year, and over 130,000 (1.3 lakh) pilgrims have already paid obeisance.
'The deluge hit a community kitchen set up for the pilgrims where 100 to 150 pilgrims were having food,' an officer said.
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