A massive cloudburst followed by flash floods struck the Chashoti area on the route to the Machail Mata Temple in Kishtwar district on Thursday, killing over 40 people and leaving over 100 missing.
News agency KINS reported that the disaster hit around 12:30 pm, just as hundreds of devotees were gathered at a free kitchen (langar) during the annual pilgrimage.
Eyewitnesses described a deafening roar moments before a wall of water swept through the area, washing away vehicles and damaging houses near the langar site. Many devotees were either having lunch or resting in their vehicles and had no time to react.
The site, located at the end of the motorable road in Paddar, serves as the starting point for the 10-kilometre trek to the Machail shrine. The sudden deluge left chaos in its wake, with personal belongings, vehicles, and debris scattered along the flood path.
A police official said that 75 injured people have been rescued so far and shifted to the primary health centre at Atholi Paddar and the district hospital in Kishtwar.
The tragedy comes as Jammu and Kashmir grapples with multiple flash flood incidents across districts, including Kishtwar and Poonch, causing severe hardship to residents and disrupting normal life. Rescue operations are ongoing amid fears that the death toll could rise further.
Rescue teams from the NDRF, SDRF, Army, police, and local volunteers rushed to the spot. (KINS)
