Amid chaos, politicians reach out to grief-stricken Paddar village

Chisoti (Paddar), Aug 21: Politicians across party lines have converged on Chisoti village in Paddar, where last Thursday’s flash floods swept away at least 70 pilgrims and locals, injured hundreds, and left scores missing.

The first to arrive was local BJP legislator- Paddar - Sunil Kumar Sharma, who is also the leader of opposition (LOP) in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

Sharma has stayed in the village for a week, overseeing rescue and relief operations and even helping retrieve bodies.

“He has not left us alone for even a single day,” said Amit, a pilgrim organizer who lost six relatives . “It is because of his personal efforts that the rescue work is still going strong even after seven days.”

Amit is himself helping the local administration and the police in tracing the relatives of dead, injured or missing pilgrims and locals.

On Sunday, MLA Sharma donned a life jacket and jumped into a Chenab tributary to help recover the body of a pilgrim swept 8 kilometers downstream.

Villagers said his presence gave them courage at a time of despair.

“People here were hopeless, but when he pulled out that body with his own hands, we felt someone was standing with us,” said Priya, a villager whose grandfather remains missing.

Other leaders, including Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar, have visited the area. But locals say Sharma’s constant presence has made the difference. Security forces including the Army, police, CRPF, CISF, SDRF and NDRF remain deployed, combing debris and searching several kilometers downstream. Volunteers (Kariyakartas) from RSS and Seva Bharti have shifted focus to rehabilitation of affected families.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the site a day after the tragedy, announcing relief and a rehabilitation package. Senior Congress leader Tariq Karra, PDP leaders, former MLAs from multiple parties, and delegations from AAP and Apni Party have also expressed solidarity.

However, locals voiced concerns that frequent VIP visits diverted resources. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti cancelled her scheduled trip on Sunday for that reason, her party said. Still, villagers credit the combined efforts of security forces, volunteers, and politicians for keeping the rescue work alive. “I have seen rescue teams skipping meals to keep searching,” Priya said. “Along with them, our MLA has given us hope.”