Jammu Kashmir Cloudburst: 12 Dead As Cloudburst Rips Through Machail Mata Yatra Route in Kishtwar

A sudden cloudburst hit Chishoti village in the Padder sub-division of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, causing alarm among residents. The event occurred on Thursday, along the path of the yearly Machail Mata Yatra. Although officials have not yet confirmed the exact figures, there are concerns about potential casualties.

Preliminary reports suggest that around 12 people may have lost their lives, though officials have yet to confirm the fatalities. Search and rescue operations are continuing amid challenging terrain and weather conditions.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh warned that the disaster "could result in substantial casualties," while confirming that rescue teams have been rushed to the spot. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed civil administration, police, the Army, NDRF, and SDRF to intensify rescue and relief efforts, ensuring all possible assistance for those affected.

In the early hours of Thursday, another cloudburst occurred near Khaltoonala in Kotkhai, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The incident around 3 AM led to debris flowing into the stream. This resulted in over six vehicles and half of a petrol pump being buried. Employees at the pump managed to escape unharmed

Due to heavy rain alerts, schools in Una district, Banjar subdivision of Kullu, Jubbal in Shimla, and Thunag in Mandi were closed. In Shimla city, floods and debris affected various streams, burying more than 15 vehicles. The situation was exacerbated by a cloudburst in Pooh, Kinnaur on Wednesday evening, raising the Sutlej River's water level.

The floodwaters destroyed temporary sheds, shops, and stores belonging to 26 people in Ganvi, Rampur, Shimla. Residents were evacuated as homes faced threats. The Ganvi police post was also endangered. Additionally, the flood caused the collapse of a bridge at the Ganvi Hydroelectric Project.

The Chaba Project, which supplies drinking water to Shimla city, was submerged. Consequently, households experienced water shortages. Heavy rains triggered landslides across Shimla, Kullu, Solan, and Sirmaur districts. This led to the closure of 395 roads including one national highway.
Weather Alerts and Ongoing Conditions

The meteorological department issued an orange alert for Chamba, Kangra, and Mandi districts today. Other districts received a yellow alert warning. Although the western disturbance is expected to weaken slightly from tomorrow, light rain will continue in several parts of the state.

In different areas of Shimla and Kullu districts alone, over 20 vehicles were buried under debris due to landslides. The aftermath of these weather events has left significant damage across affected regions.

Photos from Shimla district show cars buried under debris at Khaltoonala. In Dhali area of Shimla city, a landslide caused a vehicle parked by the roadside to crash through footpath railings.

A landslide near Galu on the Shimla-Theog NH resulted in a long traffic jam on the highway. For continuous updates related to weather conditions and their impact across regions stay tuned with our blog below.