Kishtwar Cloudburst: Death Toll Reaches 65, Search On For 33 Missing, Says Official

Jammu: The death toll in the flash floods triggered by cloudburst in Chisoti of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district has reached 65, as authorities here on Thursday began DNA profiling of body parts recovered during the search operation in the village. They have also issued notices for identification of three bodies.

While 33 persons are still reported missing, search operation has been intensified to trace them, officials said.

A deadly cloudburst struck Chisoti, the last motorable village en route to Machail Mata temple, on August 14, leaving a trail of death and destruction.

A senior officer supervising the operation put the death toll at 65 and said that 62 bodies have been identified so far and handed over to their families. "Three bodies are still unidentified," he said.

He said the five limbs recovered have been preserved, and DNA profiling has been initiated. "People whose kin have been missing have been asked to come forward for DNA profiling," the officer said.

Officials said lookout notices have been issued for the three bodies -- including one headless, and two of women -- kept at GMC Hospital in Jammu and in Kishtwar.

Of the 136 missing people, 66 were rescued alive, and 37 were found dead, the senior officer said.

Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, Pankaj Sharma, who is supervising the search, rescue and relief operation, said efforts were on to trace the 33 missing people.

Sharma, who was the first to mobilise the operational teams by reaching the spot within hours of the cloudburst, said the search operation by the NDRF, SDRF, Army, CRPF, CISF, police, GREF, and civil administration has been going on for the past eight days. (With PTI inputs)

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