Ashok Yadav | Editor
Kishtwar (J&K) :Massive devastation has struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in the region. Chisoti village has been the worst affected, with at least 60 deaths confirmed so far, while many others remain missing. Rescue and relief operations are being carried out on a war footing.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rushed to Kishtwar to take stock of the situation and meet the affected families. The government has announced compensation for the victims’ families along with long-term rehabilitation measures. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has kept a Mi-17 helicopter on standby to evacuate the injured and deliver relief supplies if required.
Teams from SDRF, NDRF, police, and the Army are engaged in rescue efforts, searching for people trapped under debris and floodwaters. However, continuous rainfall and landslides are creating major hurdles, while road connectivity remains cut off, making it difficult to deliver aid to remote areas.
Dozens of people have been injured and shifted to nearby hospitals, while hundreds of families have been displaced and forced to take shelter in temporary relief camps. The situation remains grim, and officials fear that the death toll could rise further as the search continues.
The Kishtwar tragedy has once again highlighted the fragile geography of the region and raised serious concerns about disaster preparedness in Jammu and Kashmir.
