SRINAGAR : A year after a devastating cloudburst triggered flash floods that claimed 93 lives in Chasoti, Kishtwar district, the remains of 30 victims have yet to be recovered, leaving families in a prolonged state of grief and uncertainty, awaiting closure and final farewells.
The tragedy unfolded on August 14 of the previous year at Chasoti, the final motorable point en route to the Machail Mata shrine. Hundreds of pilgrims were present at a makeshift market and community kitchen when a sudden surge of water, carrying boulders, trees, and debris, swept through the area. The torrent destroyed the community kitchen, the market, and a security outpost, burying many individuals under the accumulated debris.
Information accessed by The Chenab Times, based on an RTI reply from the Kishtwar district administration to Jammu-based activist Raman Kumar Sharma, officially recorded 63 bodies recovered, 30 persons missing, and 127 individuals injured. The administration subsequently sanctioned Rs 2.52 crore under disaster-response norms, allocating Rs 4 lakh to the families of each of the 63 deceased.
However, for some families, the absence of recovered bodies has meant a lack of both definitive closure and financial relief. Hussan Dass, a 38-year-old Head Constable with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), lost his wife, two children, mother, sister, two nephews, and sister-in-law in the disaster. Only his wife’s body was eventually recovered.
Dass, who was posted in Bihar at the time of the incident, had engaged in a video call with his children on the morning of August 14 as his family was returning from their pilgrimage. He departed for duty around 9 a.m. and learned of the disaster several hours later. “I desperately tried to contact my family, but their phones were switched off,” he recounted to PTI.
His wife, Mumta Rani, 35, daughter Anansi Mehra, 8, son Arshil, 5, mother Jeeto Devi, 72, sister Jinny Devi, 42, nephew Ritik Mehra, 10, niece Pehu, 15, and sister-in-law Rahi Mehra, 32, had travelled to Machail Mata on August 12. “They were my family. Only my wife’s body could be recovered, while the whereabouts of the others remain unknown,” Dass stated.
Extensive search operations, involving personnel from his own SSB unit, scoured the affected area for over a month but were ultimately unsuccessful in locating the missing family members. Dass confirmed that he received compensation solely for his wife, as her death could be definitively established through documentary evidence. He emphasized, however, that monetary compensation could never truly replace his lost family members.
“No compensation can bring them back,” he stated, now left to care for his 80-year-old father, Mangal Dass, while continuing his service.
Sonu Kumar, another relative deeply affected by the tragedy, lost his wife, son, and daughter. He recalled his wife mentioning before the pilgrimage that she had visited the shrine twice previously and that this would be her “third and final” visit. Kumar reported receiving death certificates for his family members despite their bodies remaining untraced, but he has not yet received any compensation. He shared the initial agonizing hope that they might still be found alive, a hope that gradually faded as days turned into weeks.
Investigations into the disaster revealed that it was not solely caused by heavy rainfall. A study conducted by the University of Jammu concluded that the cloudburst occurred approximately 8 km upstream of Chasoti. The ensuing flash flood was significantly amplified by the region’s steep terrain, landslides, and the accumulation of sediment forming temporary debris dams.
Analysis of satellite imagery, rainfall data, and field assessments indicated that sediment deposited along the left bank of the Chasoti nullah played a crucial role in intensifying the flood. Active landslides and debris from a smaller stream channel contributed a substantial volume of sediment to the main channel, which gained momentum as it descended the steep gradient. The study highlighted that the stream channel drops about 40 meters within a kilometer upstream of Chasoti, and the continuous sedimentation, landslides, and temporary damming, coupled with the steep slope, augmented the destructive power of the debris-laden flood.
The cloudburst followed a period of highly localized rainfall exceeding 90 mm. The narrow, steep valley topography and the concentration of pilgrims in makeshift structures were identified as factors that magnified the impact of the event.
Following the disaster, the Kishtwar administration faced criticism for not halting the pilgrimage despite weather advisories issued by the Meteorological Department. Since the tragedy, authorities have implemented measures to stop pilgrims from proceeding towards the shrine upon receiving adverse weather warnings.
Sunil Sharma, a senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, whose constituency includes the affected area, described the tragedy as an “unforgettable and deeply painful memory.” Sharma has repeatedly advocated for the relaxation of rules governing compensation for families of missing persons, citing the near impossibility of recovering bodies from the Chenab River after a year. He urged the government to extend financial assistance and other benefits to the families of those still unaccounted for.
Rehabilitation, reconstruction, restoration, and safety works are reportedly underway in the area, with contributions from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and an NGO. Nevertheless, for the families of the 30 missing victims, the passage of a year since the torrent devastated Chasoti offers little solace, as the fundamental uncertainty of their loved ones’ whereabouts persists.
The Chenab Times News Desk