At Least 37 Dead in Kashmir Cloudburst and Floods, Dozens Injured
KISHTWAR — Torrential rain pounding the mountains of India-occupied Kashmir on Thursday unleashed a violent flash flood that tore through Chasoti town in Kishtwar district, killing at least 37 people and injuring scores more, officials said.
The water came fast and hard, sweeping away homes, makeshift kitchens set up for pilgrims, and anything else in its path. Mohammad Irshad, a senior disaster management official, confirmed the death toll and said rescuers were still searching for more victims.
By late afternoon, over 150 people had been pulled from the disaster zone — around 50 of them badly hurt. Local resident Sushil Kumar said he saw “no fewer than 15 bodies” brought into the nearest hospital.
The flood hit without much warning, around 11:30 a.m., just as the pilgrimage route through Chasoti was bustling with activity. Panic spread as muddy torrents surged into the town, forcing people to scramble for higher ground.
Rescue efforts have been hampered by relentless rain, but police, disaster response teams, and soldiers — backed by Air Force helicopters — are combing through the debris.
This is the second time in just over a week that northern India has been struck by a deadly mountain flood, following a mudslide in Uttarakhand that buried an entire village.
A cloudburst is a sudden, intense downpour — often more than 100 millimeters in an hour — that can overwhelm rivers and cause devastating landslides in steep terrain. The local weather office has warned of more heavy rain across parts of Kashmir and urged residents to stay clear of weak slopes, power lines, and old trees.
Crowds gathered outside the Kishtwar hospital as the injured arrived, some carried in on makeshift stretchers. The mood was heavy, and the fear of more rain hung in the air.
Published in Daily Pak, August 15th, 2025
