In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a sudden cloudburst on Thursday struck Chishoti village in J&K’s Kishtwar district, causing massive flash floods that wreaked havoc on a pilgrimage halt for the Shri Machail Mata Yatra. T

he disaster claimed at least 46 lives, injured more than 100 people, and left many others missing. Most of the victims were returning pilgrims when torrential waters swept through the area within minutes. Rescue teams, including the Army, NDRF, and local authorities, are working round the clock to locate survivors and retrieve bodies from the debris. Communication challenges and difficult terrain are hampering relief efforts, as the region remains on high alert for potential landslides and further flooding. The government has announced compensation for the victims’ families and assured all possible assistance in the ongoing rescue operations.