Chashoti: 15 feared dead, 57 injured in Kishtwar cludburst, landslides

August 14, 2025 by News Desk

At least 15 people have died and 57 others have been injured after a massive cloudburst struck the Chashoti area of Kishtwar district in Jammu Kashmir on Thursday, triggering landslides and causing widespread panic.

Rescue operations are underway, but heavy rain and challenging terrain are slowing the response.

Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the developing situation. “The news is grim & accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloud burst is slow in arriving. All possible resources are being mobilised from within & beyond Jammu Kashmir to manage the rescue operations. I’m not going to be speaking to channels or news agencies. The government will share information as & when possible,” Abdullah said.

Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, confirmed that rescue teams are on the ground despite adverse conditions.

“Rescue operations are underway in the affected area. The terrain and weather conditions are making access difficult, but all efforts are being made to reach and assist those impacted,” he said.

The cloudburst hit Chasoti, the last motorable village en route to the Machail Mata shrine, forcing the suspension of the annual pilgrimage.

Experts have in the past warned that unsustainable models of development in mountainous regions can cause large-scale devastation. Such fragile terrains are easily disturbed by activities like rapid construction, deforestation, and unplanned infrastructure projects, scientific expert earn.

In recent years, these warnings have been echoed after deadly landslides in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and other Himalayan states, where human-induced changes to the landscape has led to severe loss of life and property.