A massive cloudburst in Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir, has claimed at least 30 lives near the Machail Mata yatra route. The disaster struck Chasoti, the last motorable village en route to the shrine, also affecting nearby Narang village. Authorities have suspended the annual yatra, and rescue operations are underway.

Nearly 98 people have been rescued so far from the flood-hit region. Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, comprising around 180 personnel with modern rescue equipment, were deployed from Udhampur to assist in relief efforts.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that the administration has swung into action, with immediate evaluation, rescue, and medical arrangements being made.

In response, the J&K administration, led by Omar Abdullah, has set up a control room in Paddar, approximately 15 km from the disaster site, to assist affected residents and pilgrims. Five officials are managing the control room, reachable at: 9858223125, 6006701934, 9797504078, 8492886895, 8493801381, and 7006463710. Additional contacts include the district control room (01995-259555, 9484217492) and the Kishtwar police control room (9906154100).

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the incident, extending condolences to bereaved families and directing Civil, Police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF officials to strengthen rescue and relief efforts.

This cloudburst marks the first major monsoon-related disaster in J&K this season. Similar extreme weather has affected Himachal Pradesh, where the monsoon has caused 126 deaths, 36 missing persons, over 300 road closures, and damages amounting to Rs 2,031 crore since June 20, 2025.

Authorities continue to urge the public to follow safety advisories and reach out to control rooms for timely updates and assistance.