Kishtwar, Aug 16: Two days after a devastating cloudburst hit Chasoti village in Kishtwar district, a story of survival has rekindled hope in the grieving region.
Subhash Chandra, a langar sevak from Udhampur, was rescued alive after being trapped under debris for nearly 30 hours, igniting fresh optimism among search teams and anxious relatives.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Subhash had been running a community kitchen (langar) for Machail Mata Yatra pilgrims, a voluntary service he had undertaken for years.
Every pilgrimage season, he would join fellow sevaks in feeding thousands of devotees who trek the rugged path to the shrine. “For him, serving pilgrims wasn’t just social work, it was spiritual service,” said one of his colleagues, still helping with relief efforts.
On August 14, at around 12:25 PM, a cloudburst-triggered flash flood swept through Chasoti, flattening homes, shops, temples, and the langar site. Logs, mud, and boulders rolled down the slopes, burying everything in their path. Subhash was among the many feared dead after the floods tore through his langar site.
But on Saturday, hope resurfaced. Rescuers, while clearing debris with the help of excavators and controlled blasts, heard faint sounds under the rubble. It was Subhash, dehydrated, injured, but alive. “He’s breathing! He’s alive!” shouted a rescuer, moments before Subhash was pulled out and taken to a medical facility.
Mukesh, a nearby volunteer said, “Jisko uparwala zindagi dena chahta hai, usse koi nahi le sakta. Subhash is proof of that. We hope more will be found alive.”
While his survival offers a rare miracle, the overall picture remains grim. At least 82 people including 81 pilgrims and CISF personnel remain missing, while 60 deaths have been confirmed.
Over 160 others have been rescued, some with severe injuries. As of now, 50 bodies have been identified and handed over to families.
Authorities continue rescue operations with the Army, NDRF, SDRF, BRO, and police coordinating efforts, even using controlled blasting to move massive boulders. The Machail Mata Yatra remains suspended, and Chisoti continues to mourn—(KNO)
