At least 34 people have been confirmed dead and more than 200 remain missing after sudden, heavy rainfall triggered flooding in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said on Thursday — the second such disaster to hit the Himalayan region in just over a week.
The incident took place in Chasoti town, Kishtwar district, a stopover on a well-known pilgrimage route. It follows a similar tragedy in the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand, where a flood and mudslide engulfed an entire village just days earlier.
According to officials, the flood swept away a community kitchen and a security post set up in the village, which serves as a rest point for pilgrims heading to the Machail Mata temple. One official, speaking anonymously, said many pilgrims had gathered there for lunch when they were carried away by the torrent.
The Machail yatra pilgrimage leads to the high-altitude Himalayan shrine of Machail Mata, a manifestation of Goddess Durga, with the trek beginning at Chasoti- the final point accessible by vehicle.
“The news is grim and accurate, but verified updates from the area affected by the cloudburst are slow to arrive,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on X. Television footage showed terrified pilgrims weeping as water surged through the village.
The disaster occurred at 11:30 a.m. local time, divisional commissioner Ramesh Kumar told ANI, noting that police and disaster response teams were already on site. “Army and air force units have also been activated. Search and rescue operations are ongoing,” he said.
The Indian Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as an intense downpour of over 100 mm (4 inches) in just one hour, capable of causing sudden floods, landslides and extensive damage, particularly in mountainous areas during the monsoon.
The local weather office in Srinagar has forecast heavy rain for several parts of Kashmir, including Kishtwar, warning residents to avoid unstable structures, electric poles and old trees due to the risk of flash floods and mudslides.
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