Jammu, Aug 15, 2025 : In the wake of the devastating cloudburst in Kishtwar’s Chositi village, the Jammu and Kashmir Health & Medical Education Department has reinforced critical medical infrastructure to ensure optimal patient care. A specialised team of doctors from PGI Chandigarh is en route to Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, to strengthen critical care services.
The disaster struck the remote village — the last motorable point on the Machail Mata temple route — around 12:25 pm on Thursday, claiming 46 lives, including two CISF personnel. At least 167 people have been rescued with injuries, 69 remain missing, and many are feared trapped under debris. The flash floods destroyed a makeshift market, community kitchen, security outpost, 16 houses, government buildings, temples, water mills, a bridge, and several vehicles.
To handle the crisis, the health department has deployed 13 additional doctors and 31 paramedics to the sub-district hospital near the site. The Kishtwar district hospital has been reinforced with general surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, and anaesthetists from GMC Doda, while senior officers oversee operations in Padder.
GMC Doda is on standby to receive referred patients, and GMC Jammu has activated 50 dedicated disaster beds, 20 ventilator beds, and five operating theatres. Specialist teams — including orthopaedicians, neurosurgeons, critical care anaesthetists, and maxillofacial experts — are on alert, with over 200 units of blood stocked for emergencies.
A 65-ambulance fleet from multiple agencies, including the Army and CRPF, has been mobilised for rescue and patient transfer. The incoming PGIMER Chandigarh team will provide advanced neurosurgical and critical care expertise to further enhance treatment capacity.
