Div Com Jammu, IGP, LoP continue to monitor efforts
The rescue and relief operations in Chisoti village of Kishtwar district entered the fifth consecutive day on Monday, as authorities continued their round-the-clock efforts to trace missing persons and provide support to affected families following last week’s devastating cloudburst and flash floods.
Police Control Room (PCR) Kishtwar confirmed that the death toll has climbed to 62, while as per police records, 41 people remain missing, feared trapped under the rubble.
“The death toll has reached 62 and we have been told that 41 are missing as per phone calls, though the figure might fluctuate,” a police official told news agency KINS.
Rescue teams have warned that the number of casualties may rise further.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, who has been camping at the site along with senior officers including IGP Jammu and Divisional Commissioner Jammu, said the scale of the tragedy is overwhelming.
“Death toll till now is 62. Families have reported 88 people missing. If we add the dead and the missing, the number comes close to 150. Sadly, the toll may rise further as bodies are still trapped under debris,” Sharma had told reporters as per news agency KINS.
“This cannot be done overnight. We fear that some bodies may be trapped under huge boulders, but teams are on the job to retrieve them at the earliest,” he had said.
Meanwhile, in a major development, the Indian Army completed the construction of a Bailey bridge at the affected site, providing crucial connectivity that is helping speed up rescue operations and ensure smoother movement of men and machinery.
Rescue teams from the Army, NDRF, police, SDRF, CISF, and local volunteers are working tirelessly, using heavy machinery as well as manual digging to clear debris and search for survivors.
On the ground, however, the human suffering is immense. Dozens of families continue to wait anxiously for news of their loved ones. Amid grief and uncertainty, local volunteers and relief agencies are providing food, water, and medical aid.
Authorities have assured that all efforts are being made to intensify operations and extend full support to the victims and their families. (KINS)
