Tensions ran high in the cloudburst-hit village of Chasoti on Saturday as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah faced an emotional outpouring from locals desperately seeking update on their missing loved ones.
The chief minister, who travelled by road to the disaster-hit area, the last motorable point en route to the Machail Mata shrine, was confronted by angry locals demanding faster rescue operations and answers about their missing family members. Families claim that dozens, possibly hundreds, may still be buried under debris following Thursday’s devastating cloudburst and flash flood.
“I understand their anger. People are desperate for news about their family members who’ve been missing for two days,” Abdullah told reporters during his return. “They want closure – whether it’s rescue or recovery.”
While official figures estimate around 70 to 80 people are missing, eyewitnesses claim the true toll could be far higher. At least 60 deaths have been confirmed so far.
The Chief Minister toured both sides of the flood-hit stream, connected only by a makeshift wooden bridge, and met with affected families. He later invited villagers to a tent to hear their grievances, but many were too distraught or frustrated to engage further.
Authorities have launched a massive search and rescue effort involving the Army, NDRF, SDRF, J&K Police, and CISF. “Our immediate priority is to rescue those who may still be trapped. Where rescue is not possible, we are focused on retrieving bodies to return them to their families,” Abdullah said.
He ruled out exaggerated casualty figures circulating in the media and among locals, saying, “The number of missing is currently around 80. That’s a big number in itself, but claims of 500 to 1,000 are not accurate.”
The flash flood, triggered by a sudden cloudburst around 12:25 pm on August 14, wiped out a makeshift market, community kitchen sites set up for pilgrims, a security outpost, and dozens of structures including homes, temples, water mills, and a bridge. The 8.5-kilometre pilgrimage route to the 9,500-foot-high Machail Mata shrine remains suspended for the third consecutive day.
Relief measures have begun for displaced and affected families. Abdullah said that approximately Rs 36 lakh has already been disbursed by the district administration. Additional funds from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund are being released to scale up assistance.
When asked about relocation plans for residents living in high-risk zones, Abdullah said expert consultations would be needed. “We cannot shift them blindly without assessing safety. The new location must be safer than where they are now,” he said.
– Ends
With PTI inputs