In Jammu and Kashmir, amid overcast conditions, the search operation to trace those missing in the cloudburst in remote Chisoti village of Kishtwar district continues for the fourth consecutive day today. Our Correspondent reports that Army engineers, meanwhile, have started working on a Bailey bridge to restore connectivity to the village and the Machail Mata shrine and further intensify the rescue efforts. Joint teams of Police, Army, NDRF, SDRF, Border Roads Organisation, civil administration, and local volunteers are continuing the rescue efforts. So far, 50 bodies have been identified and handed over to their next of kin after completion of the legal formalities. Cloudburst struck Chisoti, the last motorable village en route to the Machail Mata Temple, on August 14, killing 60 persons and leaving 80 others missing, while 167 persons were rescued in an injured condition.

The flash-floods triggered by the cloudburst left a trail of destruction, flattening a makeshift market, a langar site for the yatra, damaging 16 houses and government buildings, three temples, four water mills, a 30 metre long bridge, besides over a dozen vehicles. Giant boulders were also left scattered at various spots, especially around the worst-hit langar site, and some of them hampering the search were blasted in a controlled explosion by the rescuers yesterday evening. The rescuers are utilising over a dozen earth-movers and other heavy equipment, while the NDRF mobilised its resources, including dog squads, to speed up the rescue operation.