KINS Desk
Kishtwar, Aug 18 (KINS): The scale of devastation in Kishtwar deepened on Monday as the death toll from the Chisoti cloudburst and flash floods climbed to 62, with at least 88 people still missing.
Among the bodies recovered were Dheeraj Kumar and Sushma Devi, whose remains were pulled from the debris after days of search efforts.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma as per news agency KINS said that the Indian Army is close to completing a Bailey bridge at the affected site, which will greatly improve access and speed up the rescue operations.
“Today, two more bodies were recovered, taking the toll to 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 said.
He admitted that the rescue operation will take time. “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 added.
On the ground, grief and anxiety run deep as families wait desperately while rescue teams, aided by the Army, NDRF, police and local volunteers, work round the clock. Heavy machinery, along with manual digging, is being used to clear debris.
Officials said the Bailey bridge, once completed, will allow faster movement of heavy equipment and relief material to the worst-hit areas, giving a much-needed push to ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.(KINS)
