Loss of lives in JK cloudburst extremely tragic: President Murmu
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said the loss of lives due to a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely tragic and prayed for the success of relief and rescue operations.
“The news of several deaths due to a cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely tragic. I express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and pray for the success of relief and rescue operations,” Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.
Rescue, relief ops underway; every possible assistance will be provided: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district and asserted that every possible assistance will be provided to those in need.
In a post on X, Modi said, “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The situation is being monitored closely. Rescue and relief operations are underway.”
“Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need,” the prime minister said.
Amit Shah speaks to LG, CM of J&K
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the situation following a massive cloudburst in Kishtwar and assured them all possible help needed by the people.
Shah also said that the local administration is conducting relief and rescue operations and teams of the National Disaster Response Force have rushed to the site.
“Spoke with the LG and Chief Minister of J&K on the cloudburst in Kishtwar district. The local administration is conducting relief and rescue operations. NDRF teams have promptly been rushed to the site,” he wrote on ‘X’.
The home minister said the central government is closely monitoring the situation and stand firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir through every situation. “Assured of all possible assistance to the people in need,” he said.
The disaster hit Chasoti, the last motorable village on the way to the Machail Mata temple, between 12 noon and 1 pm when a large number of people had gathered for the Machail Mata yatra. It is an 8.5 km trek to the shrine from Chasoti.
LG says rescue operation in full swing, home minister has assured all help
A rescue and relief operation is in full swing at the cloudburst-hit Chositi village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said.
He asserted that Home Minister Amit Shah has assured all possible assistance.
“Rescue & Relief Operations at Chashoti (Chositi) are in full swing. Men and machinery have been put at the site. Other teams have also been rushed,” the L-G said in an X post.
The L-G said he briefed the home minister on rescue and relief operations by various agencies.
“He (home minister) has assured all possible assistance,” Sinha said.
Omar Abdullah briefs Amit Shah
Says news ‘grim and accurate’
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation following a massive cloudburst in a remote village in Kishtwar district. He said the news is “grim and accurate and verified information is slow in arriving”.
“I just spoke to the Union Home Minister @AmitShah Sb to brief him about the developing situation in Kishtwar region of Jammu. The news is grim & accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloud burst is slow in arriving. All possible resources are being mobilised from within and beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations,” the chief minister said in a post on X.
The chief minister also said he wouldn’t be speaking to channels or news agencies.
“The government will share information as & when possible,” Abdullah said.
Admin sets up control room and help desk
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday set up a control room-cum-help desk to assist people and pilgrims following flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in a village in Kishtwar.
At least 46 people have been killed and the toll could go higher, officials said. The control room has been set up in Paddar, about 15 km from Chositi village where the disaster struck.
Five officials have been put on duty for the control room. The numbers provided are: 9858223125, 6006701934, 9797504078, 8492886895, 8493801381, and 7006463710.
Besides these, the district control room numbers are 01995-259555 and 9484217492, and the police control room number of Kishtwar is 9906154100.
Army joins rescue operation, 300 troops deployed
The Army has joined the relief and rescue operation at the cloudburst-hit Chisoti village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, where at least 46 people have died and over 160 have been rescued, officials said.
Among the rescued, 38 are in a serious condition, officials said. The death toll went up steadily as the day progressed, and there were fears it could rise further.
“In the aftermath of a cloudburst at the Chisoti village in Kishtwar, troops of the White Knight swiftly mobilised for relief and rescue operations,” a Jammu-based Army PRO said.
The efforts are centred on safeguarding lives and aiding survivors, the spokesperson said, adding that the search for the missing continues.
The Army said that relief stores, medical teams and rescue gear have been rushed to the site.
Over five columns of 60 personnel each, totalling 300 troops, and medical detachments of White Knight Corps are on the ground, working with police SDRF and other civilian agencies to save lives, the PRO added.
“Search for missing is underway with medical aid and support reaching affected families,” the PRO said.
CM cancels tea party, cultural events on Independence Day
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has cancelled ‘At Home’ tea party and cultural events during Independence Day celebrations on Friday following the loss of lives in a cloudburst in Kishtwar district.
“In light of the tragedy caused by the cloudburst in Kishtwar, I have taken the decision to cancel the ‘At Home’ tea party tomorrow (Friday) evening.
“We have also decided not to go ahead with the cultural events during the morning Independence Day celebrations. The formal events – speech, march past etc will go ahead as planned,” the chief minister said in a post on X.
Abdullah is scheduled to take salute at the march past at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, the venue of the main Independence Day function in Jammu and Kashmir.
Cong urges authorities to expedite relief, rescue operations
The Congress on Thursday expressed pain over the loss of lives in the cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar and urged the authorities to expedite relief and rescue operations there.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was extremely pained by the loss of several lives in the tragedy.
“My heart goes out to the families of the victims, and I express my deepest sympathies to each of them. My thoughts and prayers are with the injured and with those who are searching their missing family members. I urge the authorities to engage more NDRF and Armed Forces teams for better relief and rehabilitation efforts,” he said.
“In this grim situation, Congress workers must extend all possible assistance to the people,” the Congress president said.
Former party chief Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, said, “The news of several deaths and many people missing due to the devastation caused by a cloudburst in Kishtwar, Jammu-Kashmir, is extremely tragic.”
He also expressed his condolences to the affected families and hoped that those missing are recovered soon.
“I urge the administration to expedite relief and rescue operations. I request Congress leaders and workers to cooperate with the administration and provide all possible assistance to those in need,” he said in his post.
A large-scale rescue operation is underway by NDRF, SDRF, police, Army and local volunteers, the officials said.
The disaster struck Chositi, the last motorable village en route to Machail Mata temple, between 12 noon and 1 pm, when a large number of people had gathered for the Machail Mata yatra, which commenced on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5. The 8.5-km trek to the 9,500-ft-high shrine begins from Chositi.
