Cloudburst in India-Occupied Kashmir Leaves 12 Feared Dead, Several Trapped
A sudden and intense cloudburst in India-occupied Kashmir has left at least 12 people feared dead, with more still trapped, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The disaster struck Chasoti town in Kishtwar district, a stopover along a popular pilgrimage route. The incident comes just over a week after heavy floods and a massive mudslide wiped out an entire village in Uttarakhand, another Himalayan state.
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of the India-occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir, shared an update on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “The news is grim, and accurate, verified information from the area hit by the cloudburst is slow in arriving.”
Television visuals showed panicked pilgrims scrambling for safety as floodwaters swept through the village, washing away community kitchens set up for the religious journey.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, a cloudburst is defined as an extreme downpour of over 100 mm (4 inches) of rain within an hour, often leading to flash floods, landslides, and widespread destruction, especially in mountainous areas during the monsoon season.
Rescue operations are underway, though access to the affected region remains difficult due to damaged roads and heavy water flow. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as search teams reach remote areas.
