
Videos Show Chaos As Kishtwar Cloudburst Triggers Deadly Flash Floods
The massive cloudburst that struck Chishoti village in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir claimed at least 60 lives and injured more than 100, with many others missing. The cloudburst has left a trail of devastation, sweeping away houses, makeshift structures, and vehicles.
Social media videos capture the moment flash floods struck the area, showing torrents of water and pilgrims of the Machail Mata Yatra fleeing for their lives amid screams and chaos.
A close-up video captures the sheer intensity of the flash floods, showing water surging violently through the area, sweeping away structures and uprooting trees in its path.
Yesterday's flash flood of Chashoti village (Kishtwar) pic.twitter.com/VxuMjbbDXS — Weatherman Shubham (@shubhamtorres09) August 15, 2025
Families have reported 75 people as missing, but locals and eyewitnesses indicate that hundreds could have been carried away by the flash floods and trapped under boulders, logs, and debris, news agency PTI reported.
The deceased include two Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and a Special Police Officer (SPO) from the local police.
Shot from a moving perspective, the footage is unsteady and not focused on any single location, capturing parked vehicles as water begins to flood the area.
Rescue operations are underway in the area, with PTI quoting officials that teams have pulled 167 people from under debris, 38 of whom are in serious condition.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had spoken with Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the incident.
'The PM expressed grief over the loss of precious lives. The Prime Minister assured that there will be no shortage of support from the Centre for whatever assistance we require," he said.
Flash floods damaged at least 16 residential homes and government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-meter-long bridge, and over a dozen vehicles, PTI reported.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
12 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
2 more bodies recovered, toll of Kishtwar cloudburst mounts to 63
Rescuers, on Sunday, recovered two more bodies from cloudburst-battered Chishoti village in Kishtwar district taking the death toll to 63, said officials. Indian Army, SDRF, police and local administration carry out a search and rescue operation in flash flood-hit Chishoti village, in Kishtwar, on Sunday. (ANI) 'Two more bodies were recovered from the debris today, which has now taken the death toll to 63 so far. Searches are still on to trace missing pilgrims. We don't have any exact figures of those missing,' said a revenue official. As per reports 160 pilgrims remain missing since the cloudburst in the village. On Sunday, CISF DIG MK Yadav also visited Chishoti to take stock of the rescue operations. 'Search and rescue operation is underway. We had deployed our personnel here for the Machail Mata Yatra earlier. When this unfortunate incident happened, our personnel alerted people and saved a few. Our three personnel lost their lives and one is still missing,' he said. Chief minister Omar Abdullah had on Saturday expressed concern over the recent natural calamities in the Union territory, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and called for consultation with experts to see what can be done to 'mitigate the risks and dangers'. 'The entire Himalayan belt is now more prone to glacial lake bursts and cloudbursts,' he had said while responding about the possibility of forming a team of experts by his government to safeguard the fragile ecosystem in J&K. 'We are going to have a look at it. It is not just what is happening in J&K. Look at the scary videos that we saw from Uttarakhand. What is happening in Himachal? We are all now, I think, prone to these glacial lake bursts and cloudbursts. To deal with this freak weather, we will have to collectively and individually consult experts to see what we can do to mitigate the risks and the dangers of these things,' he said.


Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
Himachal monsoon fury: 352 roads, three National Highways blocked, over 1,000 transformers disrupted amid heavy rains
Shimla, Aug 17 (PTI) At least 355 roads, including three National Highways (NHs), remain blocked and more than 1,000 electricity distribution transformers disrupted across Himachal Pradesh as a result of natural disasters triggered by torrential rains. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, at least 202 roads, including NH 21, are blocked in the Mandi district, 64 including NH 305 in Kullu, 28 in Sirmaur, 27 in Kangra, nine in Chamba, eight in Shimla, seven in Una, six in Lahaul and Spiti, two in Kinnaur including NH 5, and one each in Bilaspur and Hamirpur. Power supply has also been severely affected as a result of torrential rains, with 1,067 transformers out of service. These include 557 in Kullu, 385 in Mandi, 112 in Lahaul and Spiti, 11 in Kinnaur and two in Chamba. In addition, 116 water supply schemes are disrupted including 44 in Mandi, 41 in Kangra, 14 in Hamirpur, nine in Kullu, four in Shimla, three in Lahaul and Spiti, and one in Solan. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rainfall in the state, and has issued a 'yellow' weather warning for August 18, 21, 22, and 23. As a result, the state will experience a few spells of heavy to very heavy rain in isolated parts as well as light to moderate rain in most parts of the state. During the past 24 hours, Himachal Pradesh witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places and light to moderate rainfall at most locations. The Kataula village in the Mandi district recorded the highest rainfall at 120 mm, followed by Kangra 110.8 mm, Nahan 103 mm, Paonta Sahib 69.8 mm, Bhuntar 63.3 mm, Palampur 60.4 mm, Mandi 26 mm, Dharamshala 20.6 mm, Bilaspur 10.4 mm, Manali 8 mm, Kufri 4 mm, Sundernagar 2 mm and Shimla 1 mm.


Economic Times
9 hours ago
- Economic Times
All schools in Jammu to remain closed on Aug 18 due to bad weather conditions
Synopsis Schools in Jammu Division will remain closed due to bad weather. Recent cloudburst and flash floods in Kishtwar caused many deaths. Rescue operations are ongoing with multiple agencies involved. Many people have been rescued. Kathua also experienced flash floods and landslides, resulting in casualties. Injured individuals were airlifted to a hospital. Relief efforts are underway in affected villages. PTI In view of the inclement and bad weather conditions, it is hereby ordered that all the Government as well as Private Schools of Jammu Division shall remain closed for tomorrow, August 18, said the Director, School Education, Jammu. Previously, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Sunday confirmed that 61 people have lost their lives in the cloudburst and flash flood incident that occurred in the Kishtwar district, while 116 individuals have been rescued so far. Addressing the media, Chief Secretary Dulloo said, "...61 people have lost their lives in the incident. Security forces and various agencies have launched a collective search and rescue operation. CISF, J&K Police, CRPF, BRO, Indian Army, and NHPC were present at the spot immediately after the incident. Almost 450 people are working there day and night in a rescue operation. 116 people have been rescued so far."Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) MK Yadav stated that the rescue operations are ongoing and efforts are being made to locate and save those still missing."Rescue operations are ongoing here, and JCB machines are also working NDRF, local police, and CISF have all been divided into teams, zoning up the area. All agencies are working are hopeful of saving more people who are missing, who are trapped inside boulders, muddy areas, we are trying our best to get them out. The situation here is better than before..." Yadav said while speaking to ANI. The cloudburst, which occurred during the Machail Mata Yatra on August 14, led to devastating flash floods, leaving around 55 people dead in Kishtwar. Security forces have since intensified relief and rescue efforts in the affected speaking on the situation in Kathua, which also experienced flash floods and a landslide, Chief Secretary Dulloo stated that seven people had lost their lives and six others sustained injuries."...Seven people have lost their lives in the incident. Six people are injured. Those who were injured were evacuated by helicopter and admitted to the military hospital, Pathankot," he the Indian Army, in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration, carried out rescue operations in flash flood-hit villages of Kathua district on Sunday, officials Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma confirmed that five people have lost their lives, while seven others sustained injuries and are being airlifted to the military hospital in Pathankot."...There has been a lot of damage to roads and human lives in Kathua. In this village, five people have lost their lives and seven people are injured. The injured have been airlifted to the military hospital in Pathankot... A lot of houses have also been damaged... We are providing food and relief to those who are being evacuated..." Sharma told reporters.