Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s aircraft returned to Delhi after a mid-air snag while heading to Jammu. He will now travel in another plane to visit cloudburst-hit Kishtwar, where 32 people remain missing amid ongoing rescue operations.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the rescue operations after the Kishtwar cloudburst that caused massive destruction, leaving at least 32 people missing and several homes washed away. He said he wanted to visit the site but could not due to bad weather and a landslide blocking the road. Singh praised doctors at the local medical college for treating the injured with full dedication, noting that all patients were recovering well. Later, he said he, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Union Minister Jitendra Singh would connect with people through a video conference from Raj Bhavan.
Singh's aircraft, which was on its way from New Delhi to Jammu, had to turn back midway on Sunday after developing a technical snag. He was traveling to review the situation in cloudburst-hit Chashoti village in Kishtwar district. Officials reportedly confirmed that Singh will now proceed to Jammu in another aircraft and is expected to arrive shortly. He is scheduled to carry out an aerial survey and review rescue and relief operations.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, was also onboard the aircraft. Both leaders will continue with their planned visit to assess the damage and meet rescue teams.
LG Sinha Reviews Relief Efforts After Kishtwar Cloudburst
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Government Medical College in Jammu to meet victims injured in the devastating Kishtwar cloudburst during the Machail Mata Yatra. He assured full rehabilitation support, confirming that Rs 4.13 crore has already been disbursed to affected families. Sinha said all injured were stable and praised authorities for their rescue work, though 32 people remain missing despite ongoing operations by NDRF, SDRF, police, CISF, and the Army. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to review the situation soon, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated survival chances for missing persons are extremely slim.
(With inputs from Anish Singh and ANI)
