Up to date on: Aug 17, 2025 10:37 am IST
“I went again to Punjab on the morning of August 12, round 7 am. Round 10.30 am the identical day, she went for darshan to Machail Mata Mandir.”
Mandeep Saini got here together with his spouse to her parental house in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, the place she celebrated Raksha Bandhan on August 9. He stayed three days and left for house in Punjab on August 12 morning, for her spouse to comply with in just a few days. She left with the household for a pilgrimage to the Chandi Mata Mandir in Machail simply hours later, and is lacking since flash floods hit the path to the shrine that very same afternoon.
At the very least 60 individuals, most of them pilgrims to the Hindu shrine, have been killed within the catastrophe triggered reportedly by a cloudburst. Our bodies are nonetheless being recovered from Chasoti village and its environment.
“A day after a returned, on August 13, I obtained a name from my spouse’s brother-in-law. He informed me concerning the cloudburst and stated that my spouse and her mom have been misplaced,” Saini informed ANI. They have been a bunch of eight on the Machail Mata Yatra, however six are actually on their method again after being rescued.
“I went again to Punjab on the morning of August 12, round 7 am. Round 10.30 am the identical day, she went for darshan to Machail Mata Mandir,” Saini stated, “It has been 4 days, and we nonetheless haven’t any clue the place (my spouse and my mother-in-law) are. My thoughts isn’t functioning. I final spoke to her at Udhampur station.”
He sought authorities assist: “I’ve no different request besides to please discover them.”
In the meantime, Main Common APS Bal of the Indian Military, which is main the efforts, stated: “All the safety forces are attempting their greatest to rescue as many individuals as doable from the world affected by the cloudburst. We’re additionally offering reduction to the native individuals who have suffered resulting from this catastrophe.”
Earlier, on Saturday, J&Okay Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the affected areas and met affected households. He introduced compensation to the households of the victims, and for harm to property.
