Jalandhar families pray for miracle as 2 girls missing in Kishtwar cloudburst

The families of Vanshika and Disha, two young women and close friends from Jalandhar, are grappling with heartbreak and uncertainty after the devastating cloudburst in Kishtwar district swept away scores of people on August 14.

The two 22-year-olds had travelled to the Machail Mata shrine in the upper reaches of Kishtwar when the sudden cloudburst struck, triggering a flash flood that engulfed the area near the community kitchen where many devotees had gathered. The tragedy reduced Chositi village to rubble, and the families now cling to a fragile hope that Vanshika and Disha might still be found alive against all odds.

Vanshika’s mother, originally from Jammu, had accompanied her husband, son, daughter, and Disha to the city before they all proceeded to Kishtwar to pay obeisance at the shrine. While Vanshika’s family stayed a little behind, both girls decided to move ahead together. Tragically, the flash flood swept them away before they could reach safety.

Kapil Kumar, a relative of Vanshika, told The Tribune over the phone that the relative and family members had travelled to Kishtwar in three buses from Jammu. “Disha is a close friend of Vanshika, and they always stayed together. They would never leave each other,” he said, describing the deep bond between the two girls. Kumar also shared that the families’ emotional condition was deplorable in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Both families reside in the Sodal Road area of Jalandhar. Vanshika’s parents have since returned to her mother’s home in Jammu, while no information is currently available regarding Disha’s parents.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 64 on Tuesday after rescuers recovered another decomposed body downstream of the disaster site. Favorable weather conditions have allowed the rescue teams to clear substantial debris, aiding their search efforts.

In a related incident, the lower half of a woman’s body was found at the site of a collapsed house; however, officials believe it belongs to a victim whose remaining body parts were previously recovered.

Rescue operations continue tirelessly, involving personnel from the Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and other agencies. They are working round the clock to bring closure to families still awaiting news of their missing loved ones.

J & K