J&K flash floods: Death toll rises to 60, hundreds still missing on Machail Mata Yatra route

A massive cloudburst in Chositi village, Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, triggered flash floods on Thursday afternoon, killing at least 60 people and injuring more than 100. Most of the victims were pilgrims participating in the annual Machail Mata Yatra. The incident occurred between 12 pm and 1 pm, when hundreds of devotees had gathered for a langar at the last motorable point before the 9,500-feet-high shrine. The cloudburst swept through a community kitchen, makeshift market, security outpost, and multiple residential structures.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed the death toll on Friday, stating that rescue and search operations were underway. Authorities said 167 people have been rescued so far, with 38 in serious condition. Out of 46 bodies recovered, 21 have been identified. Several people remain missing, and officials have not ruled out the possibility of the toll rising. The disaster also damaged 16 residential houses, three temples, four water mills, a 30-metre-span bridge, and more than a dozen vehicles.

Union minister Jitendra Singh said he had spoken to the Kishtwar deputy commissioner and that “all possible assistance will be provided.” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he had directed civil, police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF officials to strengthen rescue and relief operations. A team of the NDRF has reached the affected site, with two more teams and an additional Army column deployed. Rashtriya Rifles troops have joined the effort. Control rooms have been activated across the district to assist citizens and pilgrims.

Rescue operations are being hampered by adverse weather conditions, with helicopters grounded due to poor visibility and communication links beyond the disaster site cut off. Heavy rains have caused power supply failures, rendering mobile phones non-functional in parts of the region. Hundreds of people are stranded in two villages ahead of the affected belt. Multiple earthmovers are being used to remove boulders and trees blocking access to the area. The Machail Mata Yatra, which began on July 25 and was scheduled to conclude on September 5, remains suspended for the second day.

In view of the disaster, Independence Day celebrations in Kishtwar were scaled down to only flag hoisting and the national anthem, with cultural events cancelled. The incident comes amid heavy monsoon rainfall across northern India, which has triggered cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in several hilly states. In Himachal Pradesh, 396 roads remain blocked, while in Uttarakhand, landslides and cloudbursts have caused extensive damage to infrastructure and property.