At least 46 people, most of them pilgrims, lost their lives after a massive cloudburst triggered flash floods along the Machail Mata Yatra route at Chasoti village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday afternoon. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed the death toll on Friday, warning that the number could rise as several people remain missing. More than 100 people have been injured, with 38 in critical condition.
The tragedy struck between 12 and 1 p.m., at Chasoti—also known as Chisoti—the last motorable point before the final 8.5 km trek to the 9,500-feet-high Machail Mata temple. Hundreds of devotees had gathered for the annual yatra when torrential rains unleashed a deadly torrent of water, mud, and debris.
Rescue Efforts Amid Harsh Conditions
Over 160 people have been rescued so far, but operations remain difficult due to heavy rainfall, landslides, and inaccessible terrain. Rescue teams from the police, Army, NDRF, SDRF, CISF, and CRPF are on the ground, joined by local volunteers. Personnel from the Indian Army’s 16 Corps, also known as the ‘White Knight Corps,’ have been deployed to assist.
One CISF official’s body has been recovered, while three others remain missing. These personnel were on temporary internal security duty for the yatra. A ‘langar’ (community kitchen) set up for devotees suffered extensive damage, and several structures—including a security camp—were swept away.
Eyewitness Accounts and Local Impact
Witnesses reported seeing bodies floating in the Chenab river as floodwaters carried away vehicles, shops, and homes. Many pilgrims remain stranded in the villages of Machail and Hamori, further up the route, cut off after power supply and mobile networks went down.
Villagers say a temple located in the middle of the flooded zone survived miraculously, even as the surrounding area was reduced to rubble. The bus stand, which serves as the starting point for the trek to the shrine, was heavily damaged, with vehicles buried in mud.
Government Response and Official Statements
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, after being alerted by local MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma, said the administration had “immediately swung into action” and that all possible assistance would be provided. CM Omar Abdullah spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to brief him on the situation, adding that “all possible resources” were being mobilised for the rescue.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed civil, police, Army, and disaster response teams to strengthen rescue and relief efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Omar Abdullah and Manoj Sinha, assuring full support from the Centre.
Identification of Victims and Missing Persons
Authorities have so far identified 21 of the 46 bodies retrieved. Pictures of the deceased have been shared with affected families via WhatsApp to help in the identification process. A control room-cum-help desk has been set up in Paddar, around 15 km from Chasoti, to assist families searching for loved ones.
Since the tragedy, the help desk has received numerous distress calls, and officials are trying to trace 67 people reported missing.
Wider Monsoon Devastation in the Region
The Kishtwar disaster is part of a broader pattern of severe monsoon damage across northern India. Uttarakhand has seen landslides and floods in Chamoli and Uttarkashi, while Himachal Pradesh has reported 396 road closures and extensive property damage due to heavy rains. Cloudbursts have also hit Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti districts in recent days.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh until August 20.
A Season of Loss and Resilience
For the families of victims and the survivors, the Machail Mata Yatra will be remembered not as a sacred journey, but as a day of unimaginable tragedy. The floods have left a trail of grief, loss, and destruction, but also a display of resilience—local villagers, security personnel, and relief workers braving dangerous conditions to save lives.
Authorities warn that the toll may rise in the coming days as search teams continue to sift through debris and mud in hopes of finding those still missing.
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