At least 10 persons are feared dead in a massive cloudburst that struck a remote village en route the Machail Mata yatra in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, officials said.
The cloudburst hit Chasoti, the last motorable village en route to the shrine.
The annual yatra to the shrine has been suspended following the incident as authorities mobilised all resources and are heading to the scene to conduct a massive rescue and relief operation, the officials said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma on the matter.
"A massive Cloud burst in Chositi area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site", he said on X.
Damage evaluation and, necessary rescue and medical management arrangements are being made, he added.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha said, "Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families & prayers for the quick recovery of injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF & SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected."
So far, since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has incurred losses to the tune of Rs 2,031 crore, officials said on Wednesday. As many as 126 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state this monsoon season, while 36 are missing. The state has witnessed 63 flash flood incidents, 31 cloudbursts and 57 major landslides so far.
The cloudburst hit Chasoti, the last motorable village en route to the shrine.
The annual yatra to the shrine has been suspended following the incident as authorities mobilised all resources and are heading to the scene to conduct a massive rescue and relief operation, the officials said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma on the matter.
"A massive Cloud burst in Chositi area, which could result in substantial casualty. Administration has immediately swung into action, rescue team has left for the site", he said on X.
Damage evaluation and, necessary rescue and medical management arrangements are being made, he added.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha said, "Anguished by cloudburst in Chositi Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families & prayers for the quick recovery of injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF & SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue & relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected."
This is the first such development from J&K this season. Earlier, Several bridges were washed away in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla and Lahaul and Spiti districts, while over 300 roads, including two national highways, have been closed across the state following fresh incidents of cloudbursts and flash floods.#WATCH | J&K | A flash flood has occurred at the Chashoti area in Kishtwar, which is the starting point of the Machail Mata Yatra. Rescue Operations have been started. pic.twitter.com/dQbUBx46A9
— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2025
So far, since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has incurred losses to the tune of Rs 2,031 crore, officials said on Wednesday. As many as 126 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state this monsoon season, while 36 are missing. The state has witnessed 63 flash flood incidents, 31 cloudbursts and 57 major landslides so far.
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