The death toll from flash floods that wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district crossed 65 on Sunday morning, as rescuers battled against time to retrieve the 70 missing people, including children and women, from the massive debris.
The search and rescue operations have entered their fourth day, with officials, teams from the NDRF, SDRF, the Indian Army, police, and local volunteers working tirelessly to recover the dead and locate the missing.
So far, officials have managed to identify 50 out of the 65 bodies retrieved following coordinated rescue efforts. Authorities fear that the death toll is likely to rise in the coming days, as search operations have been intensified.
Meanwhile, those injured in the incident have been taken to nearby hospitals, with some reported to be in a serious condition. Around 70 people, including children, are still unaccounted for, mostly from the Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts, as the majority of the pilgrims were locals from the Jammu division.
Also Read : 53 bodies retrieved so far in Kishtwar tragedy, says Union Min
Families of the missing are losing hope as crucial time passes without any trace of their loved ones. Around 170 people, including those with critical injuries, have been rescued so far.
Officials said that large boulders were blasted using explosives to speed up relief and rescue operations, as handling them with JCB machines or other equipment was proving extremely difficult.
Additionally, the authorities have deployed dog squads to help retrieve both the dead and the living from the debris. Senior officers of the civil administration, J&K Police, and the Army are stationed in the area or making frequent visits to supervise the operations.
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