What began as a day of devotion in the remote Himalayan hamlet of Chasoti ended in devastation on August 14, when a sudden cloudburst unleashed a wall of water and debris that tore through the village, killing at least 60 people — including two CISF personnel — and leaving dozens still missing.

The disaster struck between noon and 1 p.m., just as throngs of pilgrims made their way to the revered Machail Mata temple. In mere minutes, flash floods swept away homes, shops, a langar serving devotees, and even a security post, reducing the foothill settlement to rubble. Survivors described the water’s roar, the crushing force of boulders, and the helplessness of watching neighbors vanish in the torrent.

Grief in the mountains

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed that more than 100 people were injured, 38 of them critically. Rescuers have pulled 167 survivors from the wreckage, many with wounds packed with stones and fractured ribs — grim evidence of the force that struck without warning.

Police placed the entire district on high alert as Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma and SSP Naresh Singh coordinated search and relief operations on the ground. Control rooms and help desks have been activated in vulnerable areas, and emergency teams stand ready for immediate deployment.

Race against time

An all-out rescue effort is under way, with the Army’s White Knight Corps, NDRF, SDRF, police, and local volunteers working side by side. Two more NDRF teams have been rushed from Jammu, along with excavators, ambulances, and medical teams. Authorities say the priority is to reach survivors still trapped beneath layers of mud and rubble.

The annual Machail Mata yatra, which began on July 25, has been suspended. Independence Day celebrations have been cancelled in mourning.

A region on edge

The Chasoti disaster comes just nine days after flash floods ravaged Dharali in Uttarakhand, highlighting the peril facing Himalayan settlements amid increasingly volatile weather. Condolences have poured in from President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and leaders across the political spectrum, with urgent calls for relief and warnings that the death toll may yet rise.

In the stillness after the deluge, Chasoti remains both a place of faith and a testament to nature’s sudden, unforgiving power — where prayers turned to cries for help, and a pilgrimage became a fight for survival.