Flash floods triggered by torrential rains have killed at least 56 people and left scores missing in Indian-administered Kashmir, with rescue teams battling landslides and debris to locate survivors. The disaster has devastated the remote Himalayan village of Chositi, where hundreds of pilgrims and residents were caught in sudden deluges after a cloudburst, prompting massive emergency operations amid ongoing rainfall threats.
At least 56 people are confirmed dead, with officials estimating over 80 still missing after Thursday’s catastrophic flooding in Kishtwar district’s Chositi village. The dead include local residents and Hindu pilgrims visiting a mountain shrine. Rescue teams from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), military, and local authorities have evacuated approximately 300 survivors, though many remain critically injured in hospitals. The death toll is expected to rise as debris clearance continues.
The disaster struck around midday on August 14, 2025, when a cloudburst – an intense, localized downpour – triggered flash floods and landslides in the mountainous region. Chositi village, situated at 3,000 meters (9,500 feet) elevation, became the epicenter of destruction. The area serves as the last motorable point on the route to the holy Amarnath cave shrine, where thousands undertake an annual pilgrimage between late July and early September.
The flooding originated from sudden torrential rains that overwhelmed the mountainous terrain. A cloudburst caused rapid accumulation of rainwater that cascaded down slopes, triggering landslides that buried homes and vehicles under mud and debris. Disaster management official Mohammed Irshad confirmed the village was hit by ‘complete devastation from all sides,’ with floodwaters sweeping away people, livestock, and infrastructure. Climate experts note such extreme weather events have increased in frequency due to global warming, while unplanned development in fragile Himalayan ecosystems exacerbates risks.
Rescue operations face severe challenges: damaged access roads, ongoing rainfall, and the risk of additional landslides. NDRF teams using heavy machinery work alongside villagers digging through mud with bare hands to locate survivors. Seventy-five-year-old eyewitness Abdul Majeed Bichoo described pulling eight bodies from sludge while miraculously rescuing buried horses, calling the scene ‘heartbreaking and unbearable.’ Over 50 seriously injured survivors are hospitalized, with medical teams deployed from nearby towns.
The disaster has displaced hundreds and destroyed critical infrastructure. Floodwaters washed away the community kitchen serving pilgrims, over 200 vehicles, and dozens of homes clustered in the foothills. Social media footage shows extensive damage to buildings and roads blanketed in mud. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged ‘all possible assistance,’ while the pilgrimage remains suspended indefinitely – a significant economic blow to the region.
Meteorologists warn more heavy rains are forecasted, threatening further flooding and hampering rescue efforts. Authorities have deployed additional disaster response teams to the area and established emergency shelters for displaced residents. The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced compensation for victims’ families while facing criticism over inadequate early warning systems in climate-vulnerable zones. Long-term recovery will require rebuilding infrastructure and reassessing development policies in ecologically sensitive areas.