Omar Abdullah says chances of survivors slim in Kishtwar tragedy as death toll may cross 100

Srinagar: J&K CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said it was almost impossible to find any survivors among those reported missing in Kishtwar. Efforts are on to find the bodies of the missing persons to be handed over to their family members for the last rites. With the possibility of survivors dim, the death toll is likely to cross 100.

Officials have informed that 64 persons were killed in the cloudburst and landslides that hit Chisoti village of Kishtwar on August 14. Several people continue to remain missing even as the rescue and rehabilitation operations continue for the sixth day.

"A team of experts will do a survey to find the vulnerable areas as such extreme weather events keep happening," Abdullah said.


Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, said that as per available records including phone calls, 137 persons were missing, out of which 62 persons were injured and rescued alive. "36 of them were found dead and 39 are missing, as per the latest figures. This is as per the details we received on helplines and other official numbers," Kumar told ET.