At least 60 people have been killed and dozens remain missing after devastating Kashmir flash floods swept through Chositi village in Kishtwar district, Indian-administered Kashmir. The disaster struck on Thursday along a key pilgrimage route to the Himalayan shrine of Machail Mata, a revered manifestation of Goddess Durga.
The floods, believed to have been triggered by a cloudburst, sent torrents of water, mud, and debris crashing down the hillside, tearing through houses and trees. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed over 100 people have been injured and rescue efforts are ongoing.
For many pilgrims, Chositi is the last vehicle-accessible stop before the steep uphill trek to the shrine. Survivors describe scenes of chaos. Putul Devi, whose husband and three children are missing, said her family had just completed their shrine visit when a “blast-like” sound erupted. “Everyone just started running. I have only found two relatives so far,” she told ANI.
Sanjay Kumar, who was serving lunch at a community kitchen, said about 200–250 people were inside when the floods hit. “I told everyone to run. We had no time, not even a minute,” he recalled. He and his son were briefly trapped under debris before being rescued by soldiers.
Rescue operations are hampered by limited equipment. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) official said only one earth mover is currently at the site. “We were told that at least 100–200 people could still be trapped,” he said.
In one hospital ward, a grieving father clutched his phone, showing a picture of his missing daughter. “The sky was clear… within a minute, it all came crashing down,” he said. “Please find my daughter. I don’t want anything else.”
Northern India has seen intense rainfall in recent days, with multiple regions hit by flash floods. Last week, Dharali village in Uttarakhand was submerged, leaving dozens missing. In both cases, the combination of steep Himalayan terrain and sudden downpours has proven deadly.
As rescue teams in Kishtwar race against time, the tragedy has cast a shadow over the pilgrimage season and left survivors pleading for news of their missing loved ones. The Kashmir flash floods have once again exposed the vulnerability of mountain communities to extreme weather events intensified by climate change.
