Kishtwar Flood: Local Tells CM Abdullah That Leaders Are Creating Hurdles In Rescue Work, Begs For Dead Bodies

In Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, Chashoti village is engulfed in sorrow. Families are desperately waiting for the remains of their loved ones after a flash flood struck on Thursday. This disaster, caused by a cloudburst, has claimed at least 60 lives. The village is significant as it marks the beginning of the annual Machail Mata Yatra pilgrimage.

Rescue operations have entered their third day, but frustration is mounting among the villagers. A man from Jammu, who lost over a dozen relatives, expressed his anger. He accused politicians of turning the rescue site into a photo opportunity, hindering relief efforts. "20 JCBs are here, but only two are functioning," he said.

Rescue Efforts Hampered

The man continued to express his grievances, stating that ministers and MLAs repeatedly visit the site. Their presence disrupts police and army operations. "Whenever the ministers visit, they turn off the JCBs," he added. Another villager lamented about missing children and pleaded for their bodies if they were not alive.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the site to assess the situation. Upon arrival, he was confronted by villagers who reiterated their complaints about political interference in rescue efforts. They urged him to expedite the retrieval of bodies.

Political Interference Criticised

The Chief Minister attempted to reassure them that efforts were underway since the tragedy struck. However, villagers interrupted him with concerns about politicians prioritising photo sessions over rescue work. One man mentioned that 13 family members were missing, including his mother and aunt.

Another villager shared that his wife and children had been missing since Thursday's cloudburst. He pointed out that only two JCBs had been operational since yesterday and demanded action to recover bodies.

Urgent Need for Action

The man from Jammu expressed frustration over perceived delays in response due to political priorities. He remarked that if an MLA or minister had been affected, actions would have been swifter.

Earlier in the day, Mr Abdullah had visited Kishtwar to review ongoing rescue and relief operations. Speaking with NDTV, he assured that all possible measures were being taken to recover bodies. According to him, around 80 people remain unaccounted for following this tragic event.

The community's grief is compounded by feelings of helplessness and neglect as they await closure amidst ongoing challenges in rescue operations.