SRINAGAR: Over 12 people have been killed and several others are reported to be missing after a massive cloud-burst hit Chishoti village in the Padder sub-division of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday.
Twelve bodies have been recovered so far, confirms Sajjad Shaheen, MLA Banihal in a post on X.
Extremely pained by reports of 12 casualities in the devastating cloudburst at Chishoti on Machail Mata Yatra route, Kishtwar.
Such extreme weather events, as seen earlier in Uttarakhand, Ramban and other areas are stark reminders of the worsening effects of climate change on our…— Sajjad Shaheen (@sajjadshaheen) August 14, 2025
The disaster occurred between 12 noon and 1 pm in Chasoti, the last motorable point before the Machail Mata temple, where hundreds of devotees had gathered for the ongoing yatra. From Chasoti, pilgrims embark on an 8.5 km trek to the shrine. The cloudburst triggered sudden flash floods, with a ‘langar’ set up for devotees taking the worst hit.
The annual yatra to the shrine was suspended following the tragedy as authorities mobilised all resources and headed to the scene to conduct a massive rescue and relief operation, the officials said.
Meanwhile, massive rescue operation are underway to locate the missing persons.
