Five days after a devastating cloudburst struck the Machail Mata Yatra base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has stated that the chances of finding the 70 missing individuals alive are extremely low. The tragedy, which claimed at least 64 lives, has left rescue teams racing against time.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Abdullah said, “The situation in Kishtwar is clear. As the days pass, it becomes almost impossible to expect the 70 missing people to be alive. Our primary effort now is to recover as many bodies as possible so their families can perform last rites.”

The Chief Minister added that the administration is also focusing on rehabilitating those affected by the calamity. The cloudburst on August 14 unleashed massive boulders and uprooted conifer trees, destroying the base camp, makeshift markets, several temples, and damaging at least 16 houses in the Chisoti area.

Joint rescue operations by the Army, police, NDRF, SDRF, CISF, and the Border Roads Organisation are ongoing, with heavy machinery such as rock breakers and drills deployed to clear debris and recover bodies. On Monday, the Army’s White Knight Corps announced that a new bridge had been constructed over the Chisoti Nala within hours, restoring vital connectivity and aiding relief efforts.