Dozens killed, many missing as flash flood hits J&K village

At least 38 people were killed, and several others remain missing after torrential rain triggered a flash flood in a remote village in Jammu & Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday, sweeping away a community kitchen and multiple structures along the route of an annual pilgrimage, officials said.

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

The flash flood, which struck around 12.30pm, sent a barrage of boulders, debris, and mud barrelling through Chishoti village, where a large number of devotees had gathered for the pilgrimage to the Chandi Mata temple in Machail village.

Located around 80km from the Kishtwar district headquarters, Chishoti is the last motorable village on the way to the temple and serves as the point where the devotees start the 8.5-kilometre trek to the 9,500-feet-high shrine. The pilgrimage began on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5. Close to 130,000 devotees have already taken part in it, officials aware of the matter said, asking not to be named.

The pilgrimage has been put on hold.

“So far, 38 bodies have been recovered. Over 100 others were injured. However, I can't say anything for now on the missing people. There are chances of more dead bodies being found,” Kishtwar district commissioner Pankaj Sharma said.

Officials said the gushing water hit a community kitchen, or langar, when around 100-150 pilgrims were having lunch. “The langar was swept away in the deluge along with several vehicles,” a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity.

The identities of the deceased were not immediately known, but officials said that most of them could be pilgrims.

The flash flood also damaged many homes, clustered together in the foothills, and swept away a CISF picket set up near the community kitchen, killing at least two personnel.