The Lieutenant Governor’s administration has deployed eight senior officers to oversee relief efforts in Kishtwar, where a recent cloudburst has resulted in significant loss of life and ongoing rescue operations.
JAMMU: In response to a devastating cloudburst that struck Chisoti village in Kishtwar district, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration has dispatched eight senior IAS and IPS officers to supervise relief and rescue operations. The tragic event, which occurred on August 14, has resulted in the deaths of 62 individuals, with an additional 82 people reported missing.
The cloudburst triggered flash floods that swept through Chisoti, the last motorable village on the route to the revered Machail Mata temple. The disaster has also left at least 116 people injured. Among the missing are 81 pilgrims and one personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
According to an order issued by M. Raju, Commissioner-Secretary to the Government, the officers have been assigned to oversee the ongoing relief efforts in the affected area. The deployment schedule includes Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti and Inspector General of Police (Operations & Services) Uttam Chand, who will lead operations on August 19 and 20. They will be followed by Principal Secretary Anil Kumar Singh and IGP Sujit Kumar on August 21 and 22. Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Shaleen Kabra, along with IGP Suleman Chaudhary, will take charge on August 23 and 24, while Secretary Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and IGP Vivek Gupta will supervise efforts on August 25 and 26.
As rescue operations enter their fifth day, teams continue to work tirelessly despite ongoing rainfall. Rescuers, equipped with raincoats, are focusing their efforts in various locations, particularly near a langar (community kitchen) site that was severely impacted by the floods. Heavy machinery is being utilized to clear rubble, while sniffer dogs are deployed to search for any signs of survivors.
In light of the disaster, the annual Machail Mata Yatra, which began on July 25 and was set to conclude on September 5, has been suspended for five consecutive days. This pilgrimage starts from Chisoti and involves an 8.5-kilometer trek to the shrine, which is situated at an elevation of 9,500 feet, approximately 90 kilometers from Kishtwar town.
Efforts to locate the missing individuals and provide assistance to those affected by the cloudburst are ongoing, as the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event.
Source: Original article