Cloudburst strikes Chositi village near Machail Mata Shrine in Padder Tashoti area, triggering flash floods that swept away community kitchen
At least 12 people are feared dead following a massive cloudburst that hit the Kishtwar district in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, officials said.
Top district official Pankaj Kumar Sharma told Anadolu that at least 10 to 12 people were feared dead and the casualties could rise as authorities were assessing the situation on the ground.
The cloudburst struck the Chositi village near Machail Mata Shrine in Padder Tashoti area of the district, triggering flash floods that swept a langar -- a community kitchen.
It is believed that at least 26 people were in the community kitchen before it was swept away.
“All the disaster and rehabilitation teams are on the ground, we are making efforts to trace people who may be trapped in the impacted area,” Kumar said over the phone.
India's Minister of Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh said he feared the incident "could result in substantial casualties."
