The calamity that befell remote Chishoti village in the Padder region of Kistwar district on the afternoon of August 14 is a truly unprecedented event for these parts. A cloudburst washed away a langar site, a security post and dozens of yatris bound for Mata Machail yatra. So far, 70 bodies have been found and hundreds of people are still unaccounted for. However, on the plus side, the rescue columns have saved at least 160 people pulling them out of danger.
The local BJP MLA Sunil Sharma, legislator from Padder-Nagseni segment, has been quoted by some newspapers and other media organisations that around 1,200 people were present on the disaster location. Unconfirmed reports have put the number of those missing still at more than 500 while at least 40 are battling for their lives after being rescued. Many of the injured (over 50) have been brought to Government Medical College Jammu as the extent of injuries
National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah has said that the toll is likely to rise sharply as this natural calamity hit like a bolt from the blue. Most of the missing are those gathered at the langar site for partaking food by being offered by sewadars. Incidentally, Chishoti village is the last motorable area on the Machail Mata pilgrimage and a new bridge established on a nallah has also been washed away. Several vehicles, mostly four wheelers brought here from far off districts of the Jammu province, including Jammu district, have also been washed away.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Jammu Kashmir Police (JKP), the Indian Army, the local unit of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and civilian volunteers are all involved in rescue efforts. In the days ahead, more people and machinery is likely to be pressed into service for hastening the relief works, according to officials.
The Army rescue teams, equipped with specialist gear and supported by vehicles and medical personnel, evacuated several survivors to safer locations after providing medical first aid. Food, drinking water, blankets and emergency medical care were made available on the site to the needy. The Army teams are involved in search efforts and heavy machinery has been pressed into service to clear the blockades caused by sludge and boulders.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reacted with alacrity on getting initial reports about the disaster that had struck Chishoti. He immediately thereafter announced that the cultural programs that were to be organised on Friday (Independence Day) had all been cancelled. His announcement led to a series of announcements by senior officials of the state administration to cut down all revelry that marks the Independence Day functions in all 20 district headquarters, besides tehsils and educational institutions.
Omar also decided to travel to the disaster location by road, a Herculean task given the bad weather, bad roads and the rains. He posted a couple of reels on Instagram during the journey towards the location.
Earlier in the day, he posted on his X handle that he had received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sb. I briefed him about the situation in Kishtwar and the steps being taken by the administration. My government and the people hit by this tragic cloudburst are grateful for his support and all the assistance provided by the Union government. Late in the evening, Omar reached Kishtwar where he halted and met senior district officials to inquire about the ongoing rescue efforts at Chashoti village, the venue of the disaster. On Saturday, Omar is likely to move to Chashoti to see the devastation that the cloudburst has caused.
Meanwhile, several BJP legislators and senior party office-bearers have rushed to Kishtwar district headquarters to oversee the rescue efforts and mobilise the party cadres. Party president of J&K unit Sat Sharma, Sunil Sharma, Shakti Raj Parihar, R S Pathania and Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar are involved in these mobilisation efforts, according to party workers.
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