Health Dept Reinforces Critical Care After Kishtwar Cloudburst; 46 Dead, 69 Missing

Kishtwar, August 14: In the immediate aftermath of the devastating cloudburst in Chashoti, Kishtwar, on Thursday, the Jammu and Kashmir Health & Medical Education Department has implemented comprehensive measures to augment healthcare services and ensure optimal patient care for the affected population.

According to officials, the disaster struck Chositi, the last motorable village on the way to the Machail Mata temple, around 12.25 pm, leaving 46 people dead, including two CISF personnel. So far, 167 injured people have been rescued, while 69 have been reported missing by their relatives. Many more are feared trapped under debris after the deluge flattened a makeshift market, a community kitchen for pilgrims, and a security outpost.

At least 16 houses, several government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30-metre bridge, and over a dozen vehicles were damaged in the flash flood, officials said.

Critical health infrastructure has been reinforced at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Padder with the additional deployment of 13 doctors and 31 paramedics. Senior officers of the department are stationed at Padder, overseeing rescue and medical operations.

The District Hospital (DH) Kishtwar has been bolstered with the deployment of general surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, and anaesthetists from Government Medical College (GMC) Doda. A team of specialists has also been readied at GMC Doda to handle patients referred from DH Kishtwar.

Tertiary care institutions have been put in full readiness. GMC Jammu has 50 dedicated disaster beds, 20 ventilator beds, and five operational operation theatres. Specialist medical teams comprising orthopaedicians, neurosurgeons, critical care anaesthetists, and maxillofacial consultants are on standby. The GMC Jammu Blood Bank has augmented over 200 units of blood for any exigency.

To further enhance critical care capabilities, PGIMER Chandigarh has dispatched a specialised team comprising critical care specialists and neurosurgeons to GMC Jammu.

Immediately after the incident, 65 ambulances from the Health Department, NHPC, Army, CRPF, and the 108 Emergency Service were deployed for rescue and patient transfer.

The Health & Medical Education Department said it is fully mobilised to provide all necessary medical support and resources, with the situation being continuously monitored.