J&K Cloudburst Toll Rises to 60, Search Continues

The death toll in the cloudburst at Chashoti village in Kishtwar has reached 60, even as rescue teams, for the third day on Saturday, continued their search for missing persons believed to be trapped in the massive debris brought down by the flash flood.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The toll may rise further, it is feared.

More than 100 injured persons have been admitted to different hospitals for treatment. As many as 67 injured have been shifted to the government medical college hospital here.

The district administration has released a list of 75 missing people. However, locals and eyewitnesses claim that hundreds may have been swept away by the flash flood and are likely buried under giant boulders, wooden logs, and rubble.

Most of the victims were Machail Mata pilgrims, and a large number of them were from Jammu, Udhampur, and Akhnoor. Four among the missing are from Haryana.

Four jawans of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who were on security duty, were also washed away in the flood, a senior officer said.

The tragedy struck on 14 August around 12.15 pm when a flash flood carrying huge boulders, trees, debris, and muck swept through the village.