At least 60 people have been confirmed dead following torrential rainfall and subsequent landslides that struck above the village of Chashoti in the Jammu and Kashmir region on Thursday.
Indian media reports indicate over 100 individuals have been injured, with authorities anticipating the death toll may rise significantly as numerous people remain unaccounted for. Rescue operations are ongoing and more than 160 people have been successfully recovered, 38 of whom were extracted under challenging conditions.
Farooq Abdullah, chairman of the local Jammu & Kashmir National Conference party, estimates a substantially higher number of casualties. He stated in a television interview with New Delhi Television that he believes over 500 people may still be trapped beneath the debris in Kishtwar, with emergency responders suggesting the number could potentially reach 1,000.
Rescue efforts are currently concentrated on locating and freeing individuals still buried under the landslides. National Disaster Response Force teams, alongside the Indian Army and local emergency services, have been deployed to assist in the recovery operations.
The tragedy follows a severe flood event that impacted India last week. The monsoon season, spanning from June to September, frequently brings heavy rainfall and contributes to both flooding and landslides. Experts suggest that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of such events.