Twin Cloudbursts Wreak Havoc in Kathua, Kishtwar

Srinagar: The Jammu region has been battered by a series of cloudbursts and landslides this week, leaving behind a trail of destruction, disrupted connectivity, and deep grief. In Kathua district, seven people were killed and 11 others injured on Sunday after twin cloudbursts struck Jodh Ghatti and Janglote. Just days earlier, a massive cloudburst in Kishtwar’s Chasoti village claimed at least 60 lives, with dozens still missing. In Kathua district, seven people were killed and 11 others injured on Sunday after twin cloudbursts hit Jodh Ghatti and Janglote. Officials at District Police Lines, Kathua, said five deaths occurred in Jodh Ghatti and two in Janglote. Six of the injured have been shifted to Military Hospital Pathankot, while five are under treatment at Government Medical College Kathua. A landslide was also reported in Dilwan. Army, J&K Police, SDRF, and civil administration launched joint rescue and relief operations. Engineer detachments and Army relief columns were deployed in affected areas. Army helicopters airlifted critically injured victims for advanced treatment.
Rail Disruptions: The heavy rains also disrupted train services. Water was flowing above the danger level at Bridge-43 between Kathua and Budhi, forcing suspension of up-line movement. “Due to heavy rains, up-line trains have been halted. Traffic is being temporarily diverted through the down-line track until the water level recedes,” said Uchit Singhal, Senior DCM, Northern Railway, Jammu Division. He said eight trains were affected and several local passenger trains were also cancelled.
Sinha, Omar Condole Deaths, Review Relief Measures: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Kathua cloudburst. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a post on X, conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, and directed the administration to carry out immediate relief, rescue, and evacuation measures to ensure the safety of affected families. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in his message, said he was deeply anguished by the devastating rain-triggered landslides in Kathua, describing the tragedy as “mind-numbing.” He said he had briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the ongoing rescue and relief operations by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, police, and civil administration. Ealier on Aug 14, a devastating cloudburst struck Chasoti villageon, leaving a trail of destruction that has shaken the region. Two days later, the official death toll climbed to 60, while over 100 people remain injured and dozens more are missing. The scale of destruction is staggering—entire families have been washed away, houses flattened, and pilgrimage facilities for the Machail Mata Yatra reduced to rubble. The disaster has triggered one of the largest coordinated relief efforts in recent years, with the Army, police, and civilian volunteers working round-the-clock amid treacherous terrain and volatile weather.
Flash Flood Strikes At Pilgrimage Base: The cloudburst struck around 12:25 p.m. on August 14, when Chasoti village— the last motorable stop on the 8.5-km trek to the Machail Mata shrine — was teeming with pilgrims, traders, and volunteers. Within minutes, flash floods carrying water, mud, and boulders descended with brutal force. The deluge flattened a makeshift marketplace, a bustling community kitchen (langar), and even a police outpost set up for the pilgrimage. Sixteen houses, several government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-meter-long bridge, and more than a dozen vehicles were destroyed in the fury. “Everything happened in seconds. The water roared down like a wall. We saw people swept away before we could even shout,” recalled Ramesh Lal, a langar volunteer who narrowly escaped. Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror: mothers clutching children as they were dragged by the current, pilgrims screaming for help, and homes collapsing “like paper huts.”
Death, Destruction, Despair: Officials confirmed that 60 bodies have been recovered so far, while over 100 injured are being treated in various hospitals. Rescue workers fear the toll could rise further as 75 to 86 people are still missing. A makeshift control room set up at Paddar, 15 km away, has become the hub of frantic searches. Families crowd outside, waiting for news of missing relatives. Officials share images of unidentified victims via WhatsApp in desperate attempts at identification. The tragedy has not only claimed human lives but also crippled livelihoods. The annual yatra, which sustains hundreds of small traders and transporters, has been suspended indefinitely. Pilgrims stranded beyond Chasoti in Machail and Hamori remain cut off, their only route severed by collapsed bridges and broken tracks.
Rescue Operations At Full Stretch: Over 300 Army personnel from the White Knight Corps have been deployed with five columns working on the ground. Alongside them, SDRF, NDRF, police, and civilian volunteers are engaged in clearing debris, retrieving bodies, and evacuating survivors. Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma and SSP Naresh Singh are camping at Chasoti to coordinate operations. The work is back-breaking: rescuers wade through waist-deep mud, uprooted trees, and massive boulders. Medical preparedness has been scaled up. GMC Jammu has earmarked 50 disaster beds, 20 ventilator beds, and five operation theatres. GMC Doda has kept specialist teams ready. Over 200 units of blood have been stocked, and helicopters are on standby to ferry the critically injured. Volunteer groups like Ababeel and Hilal Volunteers have also stepped in. “We carried 10 bodies today. Some were so badly mangled by the boulders that recognition was impossible,” said one Ababeel worker with tears in his eyes.
LG Sinha Promises Rebuilding: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also visited Kishtwar and assured survivors that their homes and lives would be rebuilt. “Spoke to senior officials and took stock of the rescue and relief operations at Chasoti, Kishtwar. I will ensure the reconstruction of homes damaged in flash floods,” Sinha posted on “X”. The LG directed district authorities to ensure uninterrupted supply of rations, water, and medicines to affected families. Temporary shelters have been set up for the displaced, though many continue to spend nights under tarpaulin sheets. For survivors, Sinha’s assurance brought a ray of hope. “At least someone is thinking of rebuilding. We have lost everything—our house, our fields, even the school where our children studied,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a farmer from Chasoti.
CM Omar on Ground Zero: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reached Chasoti on Saturday morning, becoming the first political leader to personally visit the site. Accompanied by advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, he toured the flattened stretch, met survivors, and interacted with Army officers. “The rescue teams are working tirelessly. Our focus is on saving those still trapped and supporting families who have lost everything,” Omar said, standing near the ruins of the langar site. A virtual reality model was also presented to him, showing how the flood ripped through the valley, offering a chilling reminder of the scale of devastation.
A Village In Mourning: Chasoti, once a buzzing basecamp for the pilgrimage, has turned into a village of silence. Women sit in groups, wailing. Children cling to relatives, still in shock. Men dig through debris, hoping to find valuables—or sometimes, just bones of loved ones. “Bodies are still coming. We carried a mother and her two daughters in one stretcher,” said a soldier. “The river hasn’t returned a quarter of the people it took.” Survivors recall that one temple in the middle of the village astonishingly remained untouched, standing as a lone pillar of faith amid rubble. Some call it divine protection, others a cruel irony.
Announcement Of Support From Centre: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to both Omar Abdullah and Manoj Sinha, assuring all possible support from the Centre. Union Minister Jitendra Singh flew into Kishtwar to review operations, praising the Army and volunteers for their courage. “The entire nation stands with the people of Kishtwar,” Singh said, promising central funds for relief and rehabilitation.
Pilgrimage Suspended Indefinitely: The Machail Mata Yatra, which began on July 25 and was to conclude on September 5, has been suspended indefinitely. Thousands of devotees who had planned to travel will now cancel trips. Traders who invested heavily in food stalls, transport, and lodging face financial ruin. “This pilgrimage feeds our families for half the year. Now we are left with nothing but grief,” said Rajesh Kumar, a shopkeeper whose stall was washed away.