In Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, Union Minister Jitendra Singh is overseeing rescue and relief operations following a devastating cloudburst. The main priority is finding those still missing and believed to be buried under the debris.
On Friday night, Minister Singh, along with Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, arrived at the heavily damaged village of Chisoti. Singh stated that a disaster of this magnitude has rarely been seen in this region and that it caught everyone by surprise.
Singh acknowledged that many people are still trapped beneath the debris and commended the rescue teams for their quick response despite the difficult conditions. He noted that the disaster was made more challenging by the poor weather and tough terrain, which prevented rescue helicopters from reaching the area. Despite these obstacles, he said that the NDRF, SDRF, the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police are all working to find survivors.
The disaster, which occurred on August 14 around 12:25 p.m., killed at least 60 people and injured more than 100 in Chisoti, the final village on the route to the Machail Mata temple. A temporary market, a community kitchen for pilgrims, and a security post were all destroyed. Additionally, 16 houses, government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a bridge, and more than a dozen vehicles were damaged.
Regarding a relief package, Minister Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally involved, having held meetings and received a detailed briefing on the situation. Modi has also spoken with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
When asked about a possible visit from Prime Minister Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah, Singh explained that the weather and terrain are not suitable for VVIP visits and assured the public that all necessary assistance is being provided.
Singh also highlighted that recent infrastructure improvements in the village, including roads, electricity, and mobile service, which had led to an increase in pilgrims, were all destroyed in a matter of seconds.
He also confirmed that the government has offered chopper services to airlift those who are critically injured and require specialized treatment outside of the state.
