Dubai: At least 32 people have been killed after a massive cloudburst caused a flash flood in the Chashoti village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district this afternoon. Rescue teams have been rushed to the spot and visuals showed pilgrims being evacuated.
Officials told news agency PTI there are fears that the toll could rise, adding that 98 people have been rescued so far. Of these, the condition of 28 is said to be serious.
Chashoti is the starting point for the Machail Mata Yatra, as well as the last motorable village on the way to the Himalayan shrine of Mata Chandi in Kishtwar. The annual yatra has been suspended after the flash floods, officials said.
“A flash flood has occurred at Chashoti area in Kishtwar, which is the starting point of the Machail Mata Yatra. Rescue Operations have been started,” said Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma, who is on his way to the cloudburst-hit area along with Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh.
