Massive death toll due to a cloudburst at Chasoti, in Paddar, a subdivision of District Kishtwar, has left everyone in grief across the country. Worst awaits the tragedy, with uncertainty prevailing for those feared missing in hundreds. An inquisitive study shows that this remote region has faced several cloudbursts in past; however, the quantum of devastation that struck Chasoti on Aug 14, 2025, has never happened in the history of region. Despite ancient, the shrine used to be visited by only locals. Machail yatra, which began amidst hazardous monsoon season in August, started drawing visitors from other districts in late 1980s, leading to a massive deforestation exercise for settlement of shops and guesthouses close to Chasoti, a small settlement along Jasnai Nallah that used as a base camp for annual Shri Machail Mata Yatra. This influx of pilgrims transformed area, bringing both economic opportunities and environmental challenges. As a matter of fact, entire yatra route is located in a remote Paddar area of District Kishtwar, which houses a high density of hydropower projects and is categorized as highly vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods and natural disasters due to presence of three out of eleven identified high-risk glacial lakes in J&K.
Precisely, this catastrophe is a loud reminder for bridging glaring gaps in effective management of the growing rush of tourists and pilgrims in the fragile Himalayan region in the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. To avoid repetition of such a disaster, the situation demands sustainable development as well as meticulous planning and monitoring for smooth conduct of all hilly areas bound pilgrimages in J&K . Admittedly, weather vagaries are indomitable; however, with massive advancement in science and technology, the impact of nature’s fury can suitably be minimized. Mobile phones in J&K UT regularly keep abuzz with alerts from NDMA cautioning citizens to restrain from venturing into hilly terrains and along rivers. Formulating a flawless strategy by evacuating people and suspending traffic and pilgrimage is the job of district administration. Moreover, considering yatra region’s severe fragility and the fact that annual pilgrimage commences during monsoon season, the administration must adopt crowd management methodology and identify the safest area for camping of pilgrims. Existence of base camp and community kitchen at Chasoti- pivot of mayhem and located in close proximity to Jasnai Nallah which appears to be a villain in this horrible tragedy.
Expectedly, the Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah, has hinted at a probe to ascertain circumstances that led to the alarming death of pilgrims at Chasoti despite prior warnings issued by IMD as well as NDMA. Perhaps what necessary steps as per SoPs were taken by the District Administration, Kishtwar, will unfold in due course of time, but the incumbent District Magistrate holds in-depth administrative experience with a trail of successive prime postings since 2019. The loss of lives at Yatra is gigantic, and those responsible for the assessment of the Yatra route prior to its commencement owes accountability for the disaster.