MLA Shagun Parihar Confronts Police; NGOs Fill Authority Void
Avinash Azad
The rescue operations at Chisoti village in Kishtwar, ravaged by a devastating cloudburst, were severely hampered as the district administration diverted its focus to providing protocol for high-profile VVIP visits rather than prioritizing relief for victims and pilgrims. The disaster struck during the annual Machail Mata pilgrimage, leaving behind a trail of death, destruction, and unanswered questions about administrative preparedness.
A video that went viral on social media exposed the growing resentment against the authorities. In the footage, Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar is seen angrily confronting police officers, reportedly including SSP Kishtwar, over the delay in rescue operations. “You people are enjoying tea while rescue operation vehicles are not being provided,” the visibly agitated MLA is heard saying. Though an officer is seen attempting to pacify her, Parihar persisted in expressing her anguish over the administration’s indifference.
The MLA’s outrage came amid reports that the entire district machinery was busy extending protocol to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who visited the affected area. Locals allege that the crucial golden hours of rescue were wasted. “More than 48 hours passed since the cloudburst devastated Chisoti village affecting pilgrims of Machail Temple and the locals, but the administration’s response was sluggish. Their priority was VIP movement, not saving lives,” rued a local volunteer engaged in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The charges of mismanagement are not new. Even before the disaster, villagers and activists had pointed to glaring administrative failures in handling the Machail Yatra. “The authorities restricted their planning to media headlines. On the ground, there was no mechanism in place to deal with emergencies of this scale,” said a local rescuer. His allegations gain weight against the backdrop of repeated warnings issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting inclement weather in the higher reaches in J&K.
A representative of the local transporters’ association, unwilling to be named, echoed the frustration: “No doubt it was a natural disaster, but the administration was ill-prepared and unconcerned. Langer (community kitchens) and vehicle parking were allowed in highly vulnerable locations.”
Ground reporter Asif Iqbal Naik, covering the catastrophe, confirmed the enormity of the tragedy: “So far, 53 people have lost their lives, more than 150 have been injured, and many remain missing.”
Compounding the crisis was the absence of helicopter services that traditionally ferry pilgrims to the shrine. “Normally, at least four helicopters operate during the yatra, each making 20 sorties a day, carrying five passengers per trip. This year, that facility was missing, leaving thousands stranded,” Asif said.
Unlike the Amarnath Yatra, the Machail Mata pilgrimage does not require mandatory registration, leaving the administration clueless about the actual number of pilgrims en route. “On the day of the cloudburst, nearly 15,000 pilgrims were traveling from Gulabgarh to the shrine. No official data was maintained. Community kitchens along the route could only estimate numbers,” said Jeet Raj Sharma, who undertook the pilgrimage with his family just days earlier. He said, “There are clear discrepancies between official figures of the dead, injured, and missing.”
While the administration floundered, non-governmental organizations stepped in to shoulder the burden. Hilal Health Care Society, Abadeel, and Tariq Memorial Trust rushed over a dozen ambulances to the disaster-hit region, providing critical aid when state machinery lagged.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during his visit, announced relief measures for victims. However, survivors and locals insist that announcements cannot undo the glaring lapses. The tragedy has yet again highlighted the vulnerability of Chenab Valley districts—Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban—which have witnessed repeated devastation during this monsoon due to cloudbursts and flash floods.
Experts warn that the disaster mirrors the recent tragedies in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where extreme weather and administrative laxity combined to wreak havoc. For Chisoti’s villagers and Machail pilgrims, however, the wounds are still fresh, and their questions remain unanswered: Was this catastrophe purely natural—or a man-made tragedy compounded by neglect?
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti cancelled her proposed visit to Paddar, Kishtwar, respecting locals’ resentment that VIP visits hamper rescue work. She said the administration’s priority must remain on relief, rescue, and tracing the missing, while expressing solidarity with victims and their families.
