Flash Flood in Kishtwar, J&K: 200 Feared Trapped, Rescue Operations Underway

A flash flood triggered by heavy rains in Kashmir's Kishtwar district has killed at least 45 people and left over 200 missing. Rescue operations are underway with teams using shovels and earthmovers to search for survivors under boulders and debris. The floodwaters washed away pilgrims gathered for lunch before trekking up the hill for a popular religious site, similar to a previous disaster in the Himalayas last week.

A devastating flash flood triggered by heavy rains in Kashmir's Kishtwar district has resulted in at least 45 fatalities and left over 200 people missing. Rescue operations are currently underway, with teams using shovels and earthmovers to search for survivors beneath boulders and debris [1].

The incident occurred on Thursday morning, affecting a remote village hosting Hindu pilgrims en route to a popular religious site. Videos shared online depict dramatic flood waters, vehicles being washed away, and rescue teams searching for survivors in damaged homes. The floodwaters washed away a community kitchen where pilgrims were eating lunch before their trek [2].

The disaster was caused by a cloudburst, a sudden, extreme downpour exceeding 100mm of rain in an hour. Officials have described the incident as a "massive scale" event, making rescue efforts challenging due to the inaccessible terrain and weather conditions [1]. The Machail Mata yatra, an annual pilgrimage, has been suspended due to the disaster [2].

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the incident, expressing gratitude for the support and assistance provided by the central government. Abdullah has also questioned the administrative response, stating that the weather forecast was already known and asking whether more steps could have been taken to prevent the loss of lives [3].

The incident marks the second major disaster in the Himalayas in just over a week, following a similar disaster in Uttarakhand that buried an entire village under mud and debris. The Srinagar weather office has warned of further intense rainfall in several parts of Kashmir, including Kishtwar, urging residents to avoid unstable structures, power lines, and old trees due to the risk of fresh landslides and flash floods [4].

The economic impact of the disaster is still being assessed, but it is expected to be significant, particularly for the tourism and agriculture sectors in the affected region. The government has assured affected families that there will be no shortage of help and that all available resources are being mobilized to manage the rescue operations [3].

References:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ykpgj5rn4o
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/jammu-kashmir-cloudburst-after-kishtwar-flash-floods-hit-pahalgams-frislan-batkoot-areas-watch-video/articleshow/123303479.cms
[3] https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/j-k-cm-briefs-pm-on-kishtwar-cloudburst-says-calamity-claimed-60-lives-125081500584_1.html
[4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/14/at-least-37-killed-after-torrential-rains-trigger-flash-floods-in-kashmir