Faith was his calling, flood his fate

Chisoti (Padder), Aug 20: For generations, villagers and pilgrims alike turned to Bodhraj, 79, the priest of Kali Mandir in Chisoti village, for blessings and spiritual guidance.

Today, his family stands on the banks of the Chenab, staring into its furious waters, hoping for a glimpse of his body or even a fragment to give him a final farewell.

“He was our caretaker, protector, and spiritual guru. Everyone came to him for blessings,” said his granddaughter Priya, 17, breaking down as she described the man who had been at the heart of their family and their village.

Bodhraj was leading prayers at the Kali Mandir when a sudden cloudburst on August 14 sent a wall of water and debris crashing into Chisoti, a key base camp for the Machel Mata Chandi Yatra.

The floodwaters swept him away.

The same deluge also claimed Dena Nath, 80, another local priest who led prayers at the nearby Nag Dev shrine.

His body was recovered the same day.

However, Bodhraj remains missing. “We only want to find him so that we can cremate him with full honour. Otherwise, our souls will never rest,” said Priya.

A VILLAGE BUILT AROUND PILGRIMAGE

Chisoti, home to about 5000 residents, thrives during the annual pilgrimage that lasts from June to September.

Nearly 5 lakh pilgrims visit the shrines of Kali Mata and Nag Dev each year, many travelling from Jammu, Kashmir, and northern states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.

So far, about 200,000 people have taken part in the yatra and had a glimpse of the deities at the Mata Chandi shrine in Machael village, about 10 kilometers ahead of Chisoti, which serves as a key base camp. On the day of the tragedy, locals estimated nearly 10,000 people including pilgrims and villagers - were in Chisoti.

Many were inside temples, roadside stalls, or community kitchens when the cloudburst occurred.

The flash floods destroyed stalls, makeshift hotels, and homes. Several villagers selling maize bread and vegetables to pilgrims narrowly escaped death.

Among them were Bodhraj’s son Balwant Singh and his wife.

RECOVERY AND DIMINISHING HOPE

Rescue teams including NDRF, SDRF, Army, Police, CRPF, and CISF have since pulled dozens of bodies from the debris and downstream Chenab waters.

The remains of two CISF men were found in the days following the disaster, while a severed limb recovered later is believed to belong to a third officer.

Officials are awaiting forensic confirmation.

In total, more than 50 pilgrims and few locals remain missing, their families clinging to fading hope as the days pass. Rescuers say the chances of recovering whole bodies diminish with each passing day.

“The groups of pilgrims and local stall owners were washed away in the blink of an eye,” said Amit, a shopkeeper from Jammu who had set up a makeshift hotel at Chisoti.

Six of his relatives including four children remain missing. For Bodhraj’s family, the wait is unbearable.

They have moved to nearby Padder town, 10 km downstream, to scan the river for any sign of him.

“This village owes everything to these priests,” Amit said. “Now both are gone.”