Searches to trace missing, bodies in Kishtwar enter day 7

Jammu, Aug 20: A massive search operation, presently underway at multiple locations, entered its seventh day as the joint rescue teams, braving inclement weather conditions, in disaster-struck Chisoti village in Kishtwar district, managed to retrieve two more bodies from the debris on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a minor girl, injured in the tragedy, succumbed at Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, on Wednesday.

GMC Principal Dr Ashutosh Gupta, while confirming it, said, “This was the second death in GMCH, Jammu since August 14.”

With this death at GMCH, Jammu, and recovery of two more bodies from the disaster site, the toll had touched 70, though confusion still persisted on account of the retrieval of dismembered bodies (in certain cases, merely limbs).

The officials pointed out that the limbs, so far, were not being strictly considered as a ‘body’ as earlier some bodies were retrieved with missing parts (limbs).

For overseeing relief and rescue operations on the spot, as per the roster set up by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Principal Secretary, Home Department, Chandraker Bharti, along with Inspector General of Police, Police Operations and Services, PHQ, J&K, Uttam Chand, continued to be there for the second day.

Bharti also chaired a meeting of senior officers of various agencies to assess the situation.

Later, he interacted with the locals and those engaged in rescue operations to get feedback vis-à-vis ground situation.

With regard to the status of ongoing rescue and retrieval operations, an SDRF official told media persons that several teams on Wednesday went to search along the Chenab banks.

Searches began amid rainy weather, which later during the day improved.

“Two SDRF teams comprising 12 members, besides two teams of NDRF and the Indian Army on Wednesday went down for searches along the Chenab River. Drones are also being used in tough areas to help search teams. In all, around 35 to 36 personnel are engaged in searches downstream,” he said.

With regard to challenges in the operation, he pointed out that the weather continued to be the main hurdle.

“Still, the rescue and search teams including the J&K Police personnel are engaged in their jobs undeterred by these challenges. Senior officers of different agencies are monitoring the operations,” he said.

Four special sniffer dogs of the NDRF, along with eight handlers too have been deployed at the spot.

Four recoveries were made on the basis of clues provided by them, and as the days progressed, they were being used intensively to locate more bodies.

On the seventh day of the disaster, a family from Udhampur found closure to its tragedy after it received the body of its teenage son.

“The body of 17-year-old Anmol Sharma of Badali in Udhampur was retrieved from the debris in Chisoti village on Tuesday. Later in the evening, it was sent to the Associated Hospital Government Medical College (GMC), Udhampur. Anmol, who had gone to pay obeisance at the Shri Machail Mata shrine along with his family, had gone missing following the disaster,” officials said.

The teams engaged in searches said that the bridge constructed by the Army had enabled swift movement (of teams besides supplies), giving the desired push to relief and rescue operations. Rescue personnel created a makeshift bridge to accelerate the operations and restore connectivity to cut off areas.

Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, in a post on social media, commended the monumental contribution of “Chasoti bikers” in the search operations, right from day one.

Meanwhile, DIG DKR Range, Shridhar Patil has been continuously camping at Chisoti since August 14, personally supervising relief and rescue operations day and night to ensure swift action.

Along with coordinating efforts, he has also been visiting the bereaved families to share their grief and extend support to those who lost their loved ones in the tragedy.

In yet another development, following heavy rainfall last night, a landslide occurred in the Mughalmaidan area of Chatroo Sub-Division.

District Police Kishtwar teams promptly reached the site and launched immediate rescue operations.

Fortunately, no loss of human life has been reported.

“Some roadside vehicles sustained minor damage, however, with the swift assistance of the administration, the affected stretch was cleared, and traffic movement has now been fully restored for public convenience,” the Police said.