2LT International News

SRINAGAR, India: A sudden, intense downpour triggered deadly flooding in Indian Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on August 14, killing at least 46 people and leaving more than 200 missing, officials said.

It is the second major weather-related disaster in the Himalayas in just over a week.

The incident struck Chasoti town, a key stop on the pilgrimage route to the Machail Mata temple, when floodwaters swept away a community kitchen and a security post set up for pilgrims. “A large number of pilgrims had gathered for lunch and they were washed away,” said one official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Machail yatra pilgrimage attracts thousands of devotees each year to the high-altitude shrine, which is dedicated to a form of the Hindu goddess Durga. Pilgrims typically trek from Chasoti, where vehicle access ends, to the temple.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as “grim” in a post on X, noting that verified updates from the disaster zone were slow to arrive. Television footage showed pilgrims screaming as water surged through the village.

Divisional commissioner Ramesh Kumar told ANI news agency that the disaster occurred at around 11:30 a.m. local time. Police, disaster response teams, and army and air force personnel were deployed for search and rescue operations.

The Indian Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as a sudden downpour of over 100 mm (4 inches) of rain in one hour. It is capable of unleashing flash floods and landslides, particularly dangerous in mountainous regions during the monsoon season.

The local weather office in Srinagar has warned of intense rainfall in several parts of Kashmir, including Kishtwar. Residents are advised to avoid unstable structures, power poles, and old trees, as mudslides and flash floods remain a threat.