Rescue workers in India are racing against time as they dig through thick mud and debris in search of survivors after a devastating flash flood swept through a Himalayan village in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing at least 60 people.
According to the AFP, the disaster struck Chisoti village in Kishtwar district on Thursday following what authorities described as a sudden “cloudburst” – an extremely intense rainfall over a short period – which sent torrents of water, rocks, and mud crashing down the mountainside.
Dozens of people, including Hindu pilgrims who had gathered at a makeshift kitchen while visiting a nearby shrine, remain unaccounted for. Heavy machinery and emergency workers battled harsh weather and rugged terrain overnight to aid in rescue operations.
“We are continuing the search with full force,” said Mohammad Irshad, a senior disaster management official. “So far, 60 deaths have been confirmed, and around 80 people are still missing.”
According to eyewitnesses, the flood struck without warning. “I heard a loud blast,” one survivor told local media.
“We thought it was an earthquake — everything was wiped away in seconds.”
The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps, which has joined the rescue efforts, said its personnel were “braving the harsh weather and rugged terrain” to evacuate the injured. At least 50 severely injured victims have been taken to hospital.
Experts warn that climate change, coupled with unplanned development in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, is making extreme weather events more frequent and deadlier.
“Floods and landslides are common during the monsoon, but their intensity and impact have worsened because of global warming,” said a disaster risk analyst, adding that the region’s vulnerability is increasing each year.
Earlier this month, another flood in Uttarakhand State buried the town of Dharali under mud, with more than 70 people feared dead.
Speaking on India’s Independence Day in New Delhi on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the growing number of natural disasters. “In recent days, we have faced landslides, cloudbursts and other calamities,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with those affected. Both state and federal agencies are working together with full strength to assist the victims.”
