KISHTWAR DISASTER DAY 8: Searches expand to Bhot nullah, Chenab

Jammu, Aug 21: Massive relief and retrieval operation, which entered its eighth day on Thursday, in disaster-struck Chisoti village of Kishtwar district, has expanded to Bhot nullah and the embankments of mighty Chenab, after covering major upstream portion.

The past couple of days have seen the relief and search operation picking up pace with the opening of weather and swift movement of men and heavy machinery after the temporary restoration of connectivity to cut off areas.

The day, however, passed off, as per officials engaged in search operation, without any success vis-à-vis recovery of body or any trace of life.

The number of dead has already touched 70 (including dismembered bodies). DNA profiling of the limbs recovered is presently underway to clear the confusion about the exact number of casualties.

The deceased also included three Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and one SPO of Jammu Kashmir Police.

However, for the grieving families looking for their missing near and dear one, hopes are dwindling day by day.

Still, they stick to the place with a glimmer of hope for some kind of miracle to find their missing person alive or at least their bodies or something which can finally give a closure to their grief.

To bolster rescue operations, large boulders are being exploded or being cleared using heavy machinery to expedite searches.

As the yatra, which was scheduled to conclude on September 5, 2025, continued to remain suspended following the disaster, the authorities will allow “Chhari” with few devotees from Jammu as per rituals to mark the culmination of the annual Machail Mata Yatra.

Chisoti, the site of disaster, was the last motorable point enroute the holy shrine. Meanwhile, following the roster set by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for overseeing relief and rescue operation, on Thursday, the Principal Secretary Public Works (R&B) Department, Anil Kumar Singh (IAS), visited Chisoti village of Paddar to review the situation in the aftermath of the cloudburst. He was accompanied by senior IPS officers and IGP Traffic, Suleman Chaudhary, as per the roster. DIG DKR Range, Shridhar Patil, who has been camping at the ground zero since day one i.e., August 14, 2025 to monitor searches, relief and rescue operation, along with SSP Kishtwar and other senior officers briefed Anil Kumar Singh and Suleman Chaudhary, about the updated status. The team assessed the ground situation and emphasised the need for swift relief and rehabilitation measures to support the affected families.