Flash floods in Kishtwar kill at least 60, dozens missing
Flash floods triggered by a likely cloudburst have killed at least 60 Hindu pilgrims and left dozens missing in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir. Rescue teams continue efforts amid heavy rainfall.
At least 60 people have died and dozens are missing after flash floods struck Chositi village in Kishtwar district, Indian-administered Kashmir. The floods hit a site hosting Hindu pilgrims en route to the Machail Mata shrine.
Cloudburst suspected
Officials said water mixed with mud and debris swept down a hillside on Thursday, likely caused by a cloudburst though the meteorological department has yet to confirm. More than 100 pilgrims were injured, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar.
Rescue efforts
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are using a single earth mover at the site. When the JCB digs, they remove the victims buried above and then search for those below, the official said. He warned up to 200 people could still be trapped.
Eyewitness accounts
Survivors described sudden chaos as they ran for safety, said Putul Devi, who lost her husband and three children. At Kishtwar hospital, a man wept over photos of his missing daughter, pleading for her return.
Regional impact
Parts of northern India have seen heavy rain in recent days, triggering floods. Last week, Uttarakhand’s Dharali village was partially submerged. On Tuesday, officials in Uttarakhand reported 66 people missing.
Flash floods triggered by extreme rainfall have devastated pilgrimage routes in Kishtwar, leaving scores dead and many more unaccounted for amid ongoing rescue operations.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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