Cloudburst in J&K’s Kishtwar kills at least 12, more feared trapped

At least 12 people are feared dead after a sudden cloudburst triggered flash floods in Chasoti town, Kishtwar district, on Thursday. The town is a key stop on a popular pilgrimage route. Officials say several others remain trapped under debris. The India Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as over 100 mm of rain in an hour, capable of triggering floods and landslides in hilly terrain. This disaster comes barely a week after a flash flood and mudslide wiped out a village in Uttarakhand. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up a control room-cum-help desk in Paddar, about 15 km from Chasoti. Five officials are on duty. The contact numbers are: 9858223125, 6006701934, 9797504078, 8492886895, 8493801381, and 7006463710. District control room numbers are 01995-259555 and 9484217492. The Kishtwar police control room number is 9906154100. Rescue teams are on the ground, battling heavy rain and landslide debris to reach survivors.