Cloudburst leaves Kishtwar youth alone as mother, sister remain missing

Jammu, Aug 16: Tragedy struck Chasoti village in Kishtwar district when a sudden cloudburst on August 14 led to devastating loss and heartache for a local family returning from the revered Machail Mata pilgrimage.
At approximately 12:30 pm, heavy rainfall triggered a cloudburst, causing landslides and trapping several residents under debris.
Shamlal (52), a resident of Flora village in the Madh assembly constituency, was found dead beneath the rubble on Thursday. His wife, Sushma Devi (42), and daughter, Isha Bajotra (24), remain missing, with fears they may have been swept away or perished in the disaster.
A close relative said Shamlal operated a flour mill and also worked as a horse cart driver to support his househol.
He had left Flora with his wife, daughter, and several relatives early Monday morning for the Machail pilgrimage. On their return journey, disaster struck as they neared Chasoti. While some relatives had moved ahead, Shamlal, his wife, and daughter were caught in the cloudburst’s aftermath.
Shamlal’s son, Ayush (22), who had stayed home, is now the only surviving member of the immediate family. Isha, the couple’s elder daughter, had recently completed her Master’s in Science, while Ayush is pursuing stenography after completing his 12th grade.
News of Shamlal’s death has left the Flora village community in shock and mourning. Neighbours and relatives gathered at the family’s home, offering condolences as the family grappled with the loss and the uncertainty surrounding Sushma Devi and Isha’s fate.
Shamlal’s elder brother, Harbans Lal, shared the family’s anguish, saying, “We only pray to Mata Rani for a miracle, hoping Sushma Devi and Isha return safely.”
The deceased’s body was brought home on Friday night, with his last rites performed on Saturday. His son Ayush lit the funeral pyre, now left waiting and hoping for news of his missing mother and sister.