Imran Shah
Kishtwar, (DD): Grief-stricken villagers of Chisoti in Kishtwar are enduring an agonizing wait as rescue teams continue to search for those missing after the devastating cloudburst that struck the remote village on Thursday.
While bodies are being recovered one after another, dozens remain untraced, leaving families in deep despair.
Among the survivors is a middle-aged woman who lost several members of her family in the tragedy. Holding back tears, she recalled the horrifying moment when the gushing waters and debris engulfed everything in their path.
“We heard a deafening roar. Within seconds, the water and mud swallowed our homes. I saw children screaming, people being swept away like dry leaves. I still cannot believe I am alive, but my family is gone,” she said, sitting outside a relief camp.
Rescue operations are being carried out by joint teams of the Army, SDRF, police, and locals, who are battling tough terrain, continuous rainfall, and debris piled up over vast stretches.
Officials said the death toll has crossed 60, while more than 80 are still missing.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the vulnerability of Himalayan villages like Chisoti, perched on steep slopes and prone to sudden cloudbursts and flash floods. Past incidents in Kishtwar and adjoining districts have shown similar patterns, with climate change and unplanned construction making the region more disaster-prone.
For now, survivors can only wait in hope.
“I just want them to find the bodies of my children, so I can perform their last rites. The waiting is unbearable,” she whispered, her voice breaking((DD)
