CM Omar Abdullah: Adequate Teams Deployed for Rescue Operations After Kishtwar Cloudburst

Kishtwar, Aug 16 — Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said immediate relief has been provided to families affected by the Kishtwar cloudburst and assured that adequate rescue teams are on the ground to trace those missing.

After meeting the victims’ families, Omar said he understood their pain and their demand to know the fate of their loved ones. He confirmed that the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund will also be used to support them.

He noted that teams from the NDRF, SDRF, Army, and J&K Police are jointly carrying out rescue operations. “The confirmed death toll is around 60, while 70–80 people remain missing. Reports of 500–1000 missing are incorrect,” he clarified.

On relocation demands from affected families, Omar said the government will consult experts before shifting them, ensuring they are not moved to equally vulnerable areas. He added that hilly regions like J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand remain prone to such natural disasters, and preventive measures will be planned with expert guidance.