Death toll rises to 64 on sixth day of rescue operations in Chasoti Kishtwar
Kishtwar, Aug 19 (KINS): The body of a woman was recovered on Tuesday from the debris in Chisoti village of Kishtwar, taking the death toll to 64 as large-scale rescue and relief operations entered their sixth consecutive day.
The mountain hamlet, devastated by a sudden cloudburst and flash floods on August 14, continues to witness relentless search efforts by multiple agencies.
According to officials, the fresh recovery came from the badly affected stretch near a langar (community kitchen) site, where rescuers are combing through thick mud and rubble with the help of heavy earth movers and sniffer dogs. “The area of impact is massive, which is why the operation is taking time. We have cleared large parts upstream and are now moving downstream,” one of the officials involved in the rescue operation said.
So far, 167 people have been rescued alive, while the list of missing has been revised to 39, bringing some clarity to the ongoing operation. Among the dead are three Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and one Special Police Officer (SPO) of J&K Police.
The Army’s White Knight Corps, in a statement on X, said five relief columns remain deployed in Chisoti, supported by additional medical teams. “Our teams are working round the clock to assist civilians, ensure medical aid, and restore connectivity,” the post said.
Army engineers constructed a Bailey bridge across the Chisoti nullah on Sunday, linking the remote village once again with the route to the revered shrine. The Army has also deployed all-terrain vehicles to speed up operations in the rugged terrain.
Rescue personnel, including teams from the Army, NDRF, SDRF, J&K Police, CISF, BRO, civil administration, and local volunteers, are working in unison, often carrying out controlled blasts to remove boulders blocking the search sites. Over the last three days, more than half a dozen such blasts have been executed.(KINS)
