Srinagar, Aug 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said finding the 70 missing people alive is next to impossible.
“The situation in Kishtwar is in front of you. As the days go by, I think we have to assume that finding the 70-odd missing people is next to impossible. In these circumstances, our effort will be to retrieve as many bodies as possible so we can hand them over to their families and they can perform the last rites,” he told reporters here.
Abdullah said the focus will also be on the rehabilitation of the people who have been affected.
The Chief Minister clarified that the disaster in Kishtwar was caused by a cloudburst and not by the bursting of glacial lakes. He said a team of experts has been appointed to assess vulnerable areas and suggest measures to reduce future risks.
After the cloudburst on August 14, massive boulders and giant conifer trees came crashing down on the village of Chisoti, flattening the Yatra base camp, a makeshift market, and some temples, and damaging at least 16 houses.
Joint teams of the police, Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), CISF, and Border Roads Organisation are involved in the rescue efforts.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) MK Yadav stated that the rescue operations are ongoing and efforts are being made to locate and save those still missing.
“Rescue operations are ongoing here, and JCB machines are also working continuously. SDRF, NDRF, local police, and CISF have all been divided into teams, zoning up the area. All agencies are working here. We are hopeful of saving more people. Other people who are missing, who are trapped inside boulders, muddy areas, we are trying our best to get them out. The situation here is better than before,” Yadav said.
Besides the hundreds of rescue workers, heavy machines, including rock breakers and drills, have also been deployed to break massive boulders to recover bodies.
On Monday, the White Knight Corps of the Army posted on X that a new bridge had been constructed in Chisoti, restoring connectivity.
“Engineering Support in Relief Operations. Engineer Troops of #WhiteKnightCorps built a new bridge on #ChisotiNala within hours, restoring vital connectivity & facilitating relief operations at #ChisotiVillage #Kishtwar. #WhiteKnightCorps, First Responders in Jammu region, always in support of people. We Serve, We Protect!” the Corps wrote.
#WhiteKnightCorps | #HADR
— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) August 19, 2025
Engineering Support in Relief Operations#ChisotiVillage #Kishtwar
Engineer Troops of #WhiteKnightCorps built a new bridge on #ChisotiNala within hours, restoring vital connectivity & facilitating relief operations at #ChisotiVillage #Kishtwar.… pic.twitter.com/RANrd4QgQ6