Dozens killed as flash floods ravage Kashmir pilgrimage route

International

A SUDDEN cloudburst in Indian-administered Kashmir has unleashed flash floods that killed at least 46 people and left dozens more unaccounted for along a key Himalayan pilgrimage route.

The disaster struck Chositi, a remote village in Kishtwar district that serves as a busy stop for Hindu pilgrims traveling to a revered mountain shrine. Surging waters swept through the settlement, destroying homes, toppling vehicles, and tearing away roads. Rescue efforts were hampered by blocked access routes and unsafe flying conditions for helicopters.

In a BBC report, Federal Minister Jitendra Singh, who represents Jammu and Kashmir in parliament, described the flooding as occurring on a “massive scale,” adding that teams were struggling to reach survivors. He said that a road had been washed away and that weather conditions made air operations risky.

Mobile phone videos from the scene showed torrents of muddy water and residents scrambling through debris.

Survivors, some covered head to toe in silt, could be seen wading through damaged streets as emergency workers searched for the missing. Officials estimate that at least 50 people remain unaccounted for.

A resident of Atholi, a nearby village, told AFP he had witnessed “at least 15 dead bodies” being brought to the local hospital. According to a Reuters report, a large community kitchen serving lunch to visiting pilgrims was completely swept away.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as grim, noting that confirmed updates from the affected area were slow to arrive but that all available resources were being mobilized for rescue operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that the central government would provide every possible form of assistance.

The floods struck during a week of intense monsoon rains across northern India, which have caused widespread damage in multiple states.

In Uttarakhand last week, nearly half of Dharali village was submerged, with 66 people still missing and only one body recovered as of Tuesday.(MyTVCebu)