Locals, devotees narrate their scary moments; say everyone was running for safety
Yatra suspended, many still trapped; authorities say rescue operation still on
Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Aug 14 (KINS): On Thursday, when the people of Chashoti village in Paddar, Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, were staying indoors due to heavy rainfall over the last two days, massive flash floods struck, washing away several houses and claiming the lives of over 33 people, while many others were injured. The floods caused extensive damage to the village, which lies on the Machail Mata Yatra route.
Situated at an altitude of 9,500 feet and about 90 kilometres from Kishtwar town, Chashoti has over 150 households and a population of around 600. The village lies in the upper reaches of Kishtwar near the Line of Control, with houses built on the mountain slopes. The cloudburst triggered sudden flash floods, sweeping away houses, tents, and shops along the pilgrimage route.
Around 11:30 am Thursday, a cloudburst hit the upper mountains of Chashoti, causing the flash floods.
“An advisory had been issued asking people not to leave their houses as it had been raining heavily for the past two days. But on Thursday afternoon, a huge quantity of water came down from the upper reaches and washed away several houses. Some sank, while others were swept away by the water. It was very difficult to save those caught in the fast-moving currents,” Mohan Lal, a local, told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS). He said that a large number of goats and cows were also washed away, and scores of vehicles were damaged.
“After the flash floods, everyone ran for safety. We left our homes and moved towards safer areas. The village was cut off for a few hours until rescue teams arrived and began evacuating people,” he said, adding that one of his relatives also lost his life.
Locals were later shifted to safer places, though some people remain trapped.
Bashir Ahmad, another resident, said the village remains at constant risk of flash floods. “A few years ago, flash floods caused massive damage to our property. Back then, there were no casualties, but this time, over 12 people lost their lives,” he said, adding that residents cannot relocate because they depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
Visuals from the scene show water mixed with mud and debris inundating large areas near residential homes. Many people can be seen crossing a makeshift bridge to reach safer ground as water gushes forcefully beneath them. Other visuals capture scenes of panic, with people rushing the injured to nearby hospitals.
Machail Mata Yatra suspended: The annual Machail Mata Yatra, which began on July 25 and was scheduled to conclude on September 5, has been suspended after the cloudburst occurred along the pilgrimage route.
A langar set up for devotees bore the brunt of the floodwaters, while local infrastructure, including a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) verification counter, was damaged.
Uttam Chand, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, was on his way to the Machail Mata shrine when the disaster struck. “Chashoti is a stopover village along the route. We were resting in tents when the floods suddenly took away several houses. My two friends and I ran for safety. There was panic everywhere—people were crying and searching for their missing loved ones,” he said.
Meanwhile a senior official said the rescue operation is still on as many people are still trapped. (KINS).
