An expanded search and rescue operation is underway in the cloudburst-hit village of Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, marking the seventh day since the natural disaster occurred. Principal Secretary of Home, Chandraker Bharti, is on the ground to oversee the efforts. He is the first of ten IAS and IPS officers directed by the Lieutenant Governor to supervise relief and rescue operations in the area.
The death toll from the calamity, which struck the last motorable village on the route to the Machail Mata temple on August 14, has reached 65. The deceased include three CISF personnel and one Special Police Officer. Additionally, more than 100 people were injured, and 39 are still missing.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Despite early morning rain, rescue teams continued their work, fanning out to assigned locations to search for the missing. The search operation has been extended to cover the entire 22-kilometer stretch of the stream from Chisoti to Gulabgarh, after two bodies were recovered downstream over the past two days.
Rescuers are working at multiple locations, using heavy machinery like earth movers and sniffer dogs, particularly at the site of a major impact near a community kitchen. Additionally, controlled explosions were used to break up large boulders that were obstructing the search.
