At least 10 people are feared dead after a massive cloudburst struck Chishoti village in the Padder sub-division of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday. The incident occurred along the pilgrimage route of the annual Machail Mata Yatra.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma after being alerted by local MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma. &ldquo;Massive cloud burst in Chositi area&hellip; administration has swung into action, rescue teams are en route. Damage evaluation, rescue, and medical arrangements are in progress,&rdquo; Singh posted on X.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief, offering condolences to the bereaved families and directing civil, police, army, NDRF, and SDRF teams to intensify rescue and relief operations.
The cloudburst comes amid heavy monsoon rains lashing hilly regions, particularly Uttarakhand, where cloudbursts, floods, and landslides have caused widespread destruction. In Chamoli, a landslide blocked the Nandprayag road, while in Uttarkashi, bridges destroyed in the August 5 cloudburst have been rebuilt to restore relief access.
Authorities warn of continued weather-related risks as monsoon activity remains intense in northern India.

Rescue ops underway after deadly cloudburst hits Chishoti village along Machail Mata Yatra

J&K Cloudburst Kills 10 in Kishtwar District

Rescue ops underway after deadly cloudburst hits Chishoti village along Machail Mata Yatra

August 14, 2025 | 20:38 IST