At least 56 people have died and scores remain missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides in a remote village of India-controlled Kashmir, officials said Thursday.
The disaster struck Chositi village in Kishtwar district following a cloudburst, sweeping away homes, vehicles and a community kitchen serving more than 200 Hindu pilgrims. Disaster management official Mohammed Irshad said around 80 people were still missing, with the toll likely to rise.
More than 300 people have been rescued, while at least 50 seriously injured victims are being treated in hospitals. The annual pilgrimage to a shrine 8km from the village has been suspended.
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Rescue teams from police, disaster services and security forces are battling difficult terrain, with more heavy rain forecast.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the situation is being monitored closely and promised all possible assistance.
Cloudbursts, sudden intense downpours over small areas, are becoming more frequent in India’s Himalayan region, with experts blaming climate change and unplanned development.
Source: Agency