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Vishali Sharma had travelled from Jammu to the Machail Mata Temple with her family on the morning of 14 August. However, what began as a joyful pilgrimage quickly turned into a nightmare by afternoon, when a sudden cloudburst triggered devastating flash floods in the Chenab Valley’s Kishtwar region, where the temple is located.
With a trembling voice and tears in her eyes, Vishali recalled the terrifying moments that followed.
“It was around noon. My mother, father, and I were on the bridge. There were about 15 of us relatives. We were laughing and sharing memories from our visit to the temple,” she said.
“Suddenly, people started screaming and running. Something huge was coming down from the mountain, but we didn't know what it was. We ran into a nearby shop to take shelter. That’s the last thing I remember. I don’t know what happened next to my mother, my father, or the rest of my family.”Vishali Sharma, survivor
Vishali was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu, where she is being treated for her injuries. Her family is still missing.
'In the Blink of an Eye, Everything Was Swept Away.'
So far, 60 bodies have been recovered, 47 of which have been identified and handed over to their families. Officials, however, warn that the death toll is likely to rise and the rescue operations continue.
Nearly 120 people are injured, and around 300 are still missing, officials told The Quint.
According to the authorities, two personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are also among the dead.
Eyewitnesses say the flood struck suddenly, thundering down the mountains carrying mud, rocks, and uprooted trees in its path.
Sunil Sharma, a legislator from the newly formed Padder-Nagseni Assembly segment (created after the recent delimitation process), told The Quint that the remote area was overcrowded at the time due to a surge of pilgrims and the large number of roadside stalls set up to serve them.
Devotees eating at the langar point were swept away before they could even process what was happening. People screamed for help, but the flood showed no mercy. Vehicles, tents, and small buildings were destroyed, leaving the entire area buried under debris.
Amit Kumar, 25, a Tata Sumo driver from Kishtwar, recounted the harrowing scene. “We (taxi drivers) were sitting in the parking lot around 12:30 PM during lunchtime. There was a huge crowd of devotees eating at the langar point. We were just talking about the rush of pilgrims when suddenly, with a loud roar, a cloudburst triggered a massive flash flood."
He added,
"In the blink of an eye, the entire area was washed away along with hundreds of devotees. I don’t know how many are trapped under the debris. I can’t find the words to describe this devastation.”
Subash, a devotee who had just returned from darshan, was still in a state of shock when he shared the horrifying experience.
“It’s only Mata’s (Goddess) grace that saved and kept me alive. We were a group of 18 people, including children, women, and elderly. I had just finished lunch and left the langar point. I crossed the bridge while the others were still there. It all happened so fast. I have no idea where my group members are now,” he said.
Subash is currently at the Sub-District Hospital in Kishtwar, searching for and trying to identify the members of his group.
“I have never seen such a devastating flash flood in my life. Mata Rani sabki raksha kare (May the Goddess protect everyone),” said Rakesh Thakur, who lives just 3 km from Chashoti and also witnessed the devastating incident.
Rescue Operations Underway, Local Volunteers Step Up
Officials said that rescue teams, supervised by the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar and senior J&K police officers, are assessing the situation, as teams from the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), SDRF (State Disaster Response Force), police, and volunteers continue their efforts on the ground.
“This (Chashoti) is the last village in my constituency. Vehicles can go up to this place only and beyond that there is no motorable road. One has to go by foot to reach the pilgrimage site (Machail Mata temple). ”Sunil Sharma, local leader
Eyewitnesses and volunteers on the ground told The Quint that numerous ambulances have been deployed to support rescue and relief efforts in the flood-hit area.
Ababeel, a charitable trust based in Kishtwar, has mobilised its volunteers at the site. According to them, the situation is “catastrophic,” with many bodies still trapped under debris and fears that the death toll may rise.
Babar, an advocate by profession and a volunteer with Ababeel, told The Quint, “We have around 30 people on the ground assisting with urgent rescue operations. Nine of our ambulances have been deployed to help the injured and others affected by the catastrophic flash floods in Chashoti, Kishtwar.”
The scene at nearby hospitals is grim and heartbreaking. Injured people lie on stretchers, many crying out in pain. Some are severely wounded, while others desperately search for their loved ones among the injured or the dead.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir administration, headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has suspended the annual Machail Mata Temple pilgrimage.
Sinha expressed condolences and assured all help from his administration. “I want to assure all the affected families that the Government stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of crisis. Air Force has also been alerted for evacuation. I am constantly monitoring the situation,” the LG wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
'A Wake Up Call for Administration': J&K Leaders Mourn The Tragedy, Call for Stronger Disaster Preparedness
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced deep concern and, given the sensitivity of the situation, cancelled the ‘At Home’ tea party scheduled for the evening of 15 August, along with Independence Day celebrations.
“In light of the tragedy caused by the cloudburst in Kishtwar, I have taken the decision to cancel the ‘At Home’ tea party tomorrow evening. We have also decided not to go ahead with the cultural events during the morning Independence Day celebrations. The formal events - speech, march past, etc, will go ahead as planned,” he said in a post on X.
Besides the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party, other political leaders in J&K also voiced their concern over the Kishtwar tragedy.
Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, a central committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and member of the J&K Legislative Assembly from south Kashmir’s Kulgam constituency, said the Kishtwar tragedy was a “wake-up call for the policymakers and administration. We must draw lessons from the tragedies in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Kishtwar and develop effective responses to such calamities.”
“Jammu and Kashmir today stands on the brink of an environmental disaster. We are endangering not just our present but the future of generations to come.”Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami
Experts Warn of Increasing Climate Disasters in the Mountains
In the ecologically fragile regions of Kashmir, climate-induced disasters are becoming alarmingly frequent.
These areas have witnessed a surge in extreme weather events like massive cloudbursts, landslides, snow avalanches, prolonged droughts, and flash floods, in recent years, each leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The cloudburst that occurred in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, earlier this month, is another grim reminder of this escalating crisis. That incident triggered flash floods, destroyed infrastructure, and claimed several lives—further underscoring how Himalayan states are increasingly vulnerable to the unpredictable forces of a warming planet.
Environmentalists have warned that massive disasters are expected to occur more frequently.
Athar Parvaiz, an environmentalist who has himself extensively reported on climate change, told The Quint, “It is too early to say whether the loss of lives in Kishtwar, in what appears to be a climate-driven disaster, was avoidable. Only a proper assessment can reveal the facts."
But, he added,
"This tragedy once again highlights the overall lack of preparedness, both at the government level and among local communities, especially those living in vulnerable areas, to build resilience against climate-related disasters. These events are not only becoming more frequent but are projected to increase further in the future.”
Parvaiz further said, “We can implement early warning systems in our region, employing globally inspired frameworks such as the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative, launched in 2022. If the government begins to take disaster risk reduction seriously, we can achieve substantial progress. A robust early warning system is a proven, cost-effective, and efficient way to save lives. Without wasting any more time, the government should begin by improving weather forecasting, particularly impact-based and localized forecasts for vulnerable areas.”
Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Jammu and Kashmir, said that rainfall is expected to continue in the region until the evening of 15 August.
“Heavy rainfall is not due to any western disturbance or cyclonic activity. It is part of the seasonal monsoon in Jammu and Kashmir,” he told The Quint.
(This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.)