A year on, 30 Machail Mata pilgrims remain missing, families cling to hope

A year after a devastating cloudburst struck Chisoti village in Kishtwar, the families of 30 pilgrims to Machail Mata temple and locals who went missing in the tragedy are still waiting for their loved ones, with no final word on their fate even as the first anniversary of the disaster will be observed tomorrow (14 August).

Official sources say that 30 persons are still officially listed as missing, while 63 deaths have been recorded and 63 bodies recovered. Of these, 60 deceased have been identified, leaving families of the missing pilgrims caught in a painful wait that has continued for an entire year.

The missing persons were among pilgrims travelling towards the revered Machail Mata temple when the cloudburst triggered a massive flash flood and devastation in Chisoti. While the remains of 60 victims have since been identified, the whereabouts of around 30 others remain unknown, leaving their families caught between hope and grief.

As many as 127 people were injured in the incident.

For the relatives, the passage of one year has done little to ease the pain. With no confirmed word about their loved ones, many continue to wait for information about their fate and for authorities to establish what happened to those who disappeared in the tragedy.

The cloudburst on August 14 last year had caused massive destruction in Chisoti, one of the key stopping points on the route to the Machail Mata shrine. The sudden deluge swept away people, vehicles and structures, turning the pilgrimage route into a scene of devastation.

The cloudburst and ensuing flash flood hit Chisoti on August 14, 2025, when hundreds of devotees were undertaking the pilgrimage to the revered Machail Mata temple. The sudden deluge caused massive destruction, sweeping away pilgrims and leaving a trail of death and devastation along the pilgrimage route.

For the families of the 30 missing pilgrims, however, the tragedy remains unresolved. A year later, they continue to hope that their relatives may be found or that authorities will be able to establish their fate and provide them closure.

But for the families whose relatives remain missing, the tragedy has not ended. Their wait continues even as the first anniversary of the disaster approaches. For them, August 14 is not merely a date marking one of the deadliest disasters to hit the region—it is a reminder of the last day they saw their family members alive.

The relatives are now hoping that the authorities will intensify efforts to trace the remaining missing persons, review available records and evidence, and provide families with definitive answers.

Officials said that compensation under SDRF norms had been sanctioned at Rs 4 lakh for each deceased person, amounting to Rs 2.52 crore for 63 deaths.

The figures assume particular significance ahead of August 14, when families will mark one year since the last time they saw their loved ones. While the identification of most recovered victims has brought some measure of closure to their families, those whose relatives remain missing are still left with unanswered questions.