Defence Minister Rajnath Singh likely to visit cloudburst-hit Chisoti village today

Jammu, Aug 23: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to visit disaster-struck Chisoti in the Padder area of Kishtwar district on Sunday to assess the rescue and relief operation and interact with the families affected by cloudburst-induced flash floods.

Chisoti village, the last motorable point to the Shri Machail Mata shrine, was struck by catastrophic flash floods triggered by a cloudburst on August 14, 2025, claiming around 70 lives besides causing extensive damage to public and government infrastructure.

“Yes, the visit of the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Chisoti is planned for the afternoon of August 24 to survey flash-flood-affected areas and meet the affected families there. However, it (the planned visit) will remain subject to weather conditions,” PRO Defence Lt Col Suneel Bartwal told Greater Kashmir, in response to its queries about the VVIP visit.

Notably, the Meteorological Department in its weather forecast has predicted intense to heavy rains and thunderclouds at many places in the Jammu division, including Jammu, Kishtwar, Poonch, Doda, and Ramban, from August 23 to 26, with the possibility of cloudbursts or flash floods at a few vulnerable places with landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones.

However, as per the tentative itinerary, the Defence Minister is likely to reach Jammu on Sunday. From Jammu, he, along with the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, will directly fly to Kishtwar for his onwards visit to flood-ravaged Chisoti.

After taking stock of relief and rescue operations currently underway at war footing in Chisoti, he is likely to meet and console affected families there before his return to Jammu.

Chisoti village too lost over a dozen inhabitants, along with the pilgrims, mainly from Jammu, in the deadly flash flood.

As per the tentative schedule, this is the only engagement of Singh during his visit, and he will fly back to the union capital from Jammu.

The Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister are constantly monitoring the relief and rescue operation in Chisoti and have already assured full assistance to the affected families.

Multiple agencies, including the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), volunteers, NGOs and civil government officials, have been engaged in relief and rescue operations in perfect synergy since August 14.

Earlier, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had visited the affected area and assessed relief and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, in a heartening development, the teams engaged in rescue operations have managed to retrieve a temple, fully intact, from the slush debris. The temple is dedicated to Nag Devta.