Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF lead massive rescue ops; helicopters airlift stranded pilgrims. Disaster forces indefinite suspension of 43-day Machail Mata Yatra in Jammu & Kashmir’s Paddar Valley
BY PC Bureau
August 14, 2025: A sudden and devastating cloudburst struck Chositi village in the remote Paddar Valley of Kishtwar district on Thursday afternoon, unleashing torrential floods that swept away structures, disrupted the Machail Mata Yatra, and left at least 50 people dead. More than 50 others were reported injured, while nearly 200 remain missing as rescue teams battle treacherous conditions.
The disaster unfolded between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM, just as hundreds of pilgrims and locals were gathered in Chositi—the last motorable point before the 9,705-foot-high Machail Mata temple—when the skies opened up without warning. Within minutes, surging muddy torrents engulfed the valley, sweeping away temporary shelters, including a langar shed serving free meals to devotees.
Eyewitness Accounts of Chaos
Survivors described scenes of panic as floodwaters, carrying boulders and debris, rushed through the narrow valley. “We were having lunch at the langar when we heard a deafening roar. In seconds, water and rocks came crashing down. People were screaming, running in every direction,” said Rajesh Thakur, a pilgrim from Udhampur who managed to escape to higher ground.
Mobile videos circulating on social media show volunteers and officials shouting at crowds to move uphill, while others try to form human chains to help those trapped. A clip from the yatra’s starting point in Chositi shows pilgrims clutching children and scrambling over rocks as brown floodwaters surged beneath them.
Kishtwar Cloudburst: 20 Dead, 70 Injured, Dozens Missing, Rescue Operations On pic.twitter.com/toPCkNChpU
— Kashmir Life (@KashmirLife) August 14, 2025
Pilgrimage Disrupted
The Machail Mata Yatra—a revered 43-day annual pilgrimage to the Shri Chandi Mata temple—began on July 25 and was scheduled to end on September 5. By July 26, official figures recorded 58,562 pilgrims, with 4,944 arriving on the opening day alone. The disaster has forced an indefinite suspension of the yatra, as access roads are blocked and infrastructure destroyed.
Among the dead is a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawan deployed for yatra security. Three other CISF personnel are missing. Several pilgrims are feared trapped in remote stretches of the route where communication lines are down.
Massive Multi-Agency Rescue
The Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Jammu and Kashmir Police, and local volunteers launched a coordinated rescue effort within hours. Helicopters have been pressed into service for aerial evacuations and to deliver supplies to isolated pockets.
Heart breaking visuals from Chishoti village of Padder, Kishtwar After Cloudburst.
12+ Bodies Recovered & Many More Feared Dead 💔
My Prayers With Locals 🙏 #kishtwar pic.twitter.com/5nTSrJhpOd— Desidudewithsign (@Nikhilsingh21_) August 14, 2025
However, officials admit that rugged terrain, washed-out roads, and continuous rain are severely hampering access. “This is one of the most challenging operations we have faced in recent years. The topography and weather are making it nearly impossible for heavy equipment to reach Chositi quickly,” said Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma.
Temporary relief camps have been set up at Gulabgarh, where the Yatri Niwas, capable of accommodating 5,000 pilgrims daily, is now serving as a major shelter for evacuees. Medical teams are treating the injured, with critical cases airlifted to district hospitals.
Government and Political Response
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, noting that communication blackouts in Paddar Valley are slowing the confirmation of casualty figures. “All possible resources from within and beyond J&K are being mobilized,” Abdullah said, adding that official updates will be released to counter misinformation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on social media: “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar. The situation is being monitored closely. Every possible assistance will be provided.”
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, MP from Udhampur, described the tragedy as one that could result in “substantial casualties” and coordinated directly with local administration to ensure swift relief delivery. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha instructed agencies to intensify operations and assured full support for victims’ families.
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Impact Beyond the Yatra
The devastation extends beyond the pilgrimage route. Several homes, bridges, and farmland in the Paddar Valley have been damaged or destroyed. Livelihoods dependent on agriculture and tourism are expected to take a severe hit. Local community leaders are urging the government to commit to long-term rehabilitation, including the rebuilding of critical road links.
The Machail Mata Yatra, which has faced disruptions before—most notably in 2019 due to security concerns following the abrogation of Article 370—remains an event of deep spiritual and economic significance for the region. This year’s disaster, however, could reshape how the pilgrimage is managed in future, with calls for real-time weather monitoring, early warning systems, and reinforced infrastructure along vulnerable stretches.
As night falls over Kishtwar, search and rescue teams continue to comb through debris under floodlights, knowing that each passing hour narrows the window to find survivors. The sound of helicopter rotors and rushing floodwaters fills the valley—a grim reminder of nature’s fury and the human resilience it demands.
