Srinagar, Aug. 16 -- A massive cloudburst led to flash floods in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday while some still remain missing. Disaster struck Chositi, the last motorable village on the way to Machail Mata temple, between 12 noon and 1 pm. A large number of people had gathered there for the annual Machail Mata yatra that began on July 25 and is scheduled to end on September 5. The 8.5 kilometre trek to the 9,500-feet shrine begins from Chositi which is about 90 kilometres from Kishtwar town. A 'langar' (community kitchen) packed with devotees bore the brunt of the cloudburst, which led to flash floods and washed away several structures, including shops and a security outpost.

While the government ...