Kishtwar, Aug 14: Tragedy struck Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday when a powerful cloudburst devastated Chasoti — the final motorable point on the route to the revered Machail Mata shrine. Initial reports indicate that around 10 people may have lost their lives in the disaster.
The calamity unfolded as devotees and locals were engaged in preparations for the ongoing annual pilgrimage. In the wake of the incident, authorities have called off the yatra, redirecting all available resources towards an urgent rescue and relief mission.
District administration officials, led by Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh, are rushing to the affected zone to personally oversee operations. Teams from disaster response units and local agencies are mobilising to search for survivors and provide immediate assistance to those impacted.
