Srinagar, Aug. 14 -- As night fell over Chositi village, rescuers worked frantically and pulled out 167 people from under mounds of rubble. Of these, 38 are in a serious condition, officials said. The death toll went up steadily as the day progressed and there were fears it could rise further.

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 yatra that began on July 25 and is scheduled to end on September 5. The 8.5 kilometre trek to the temple at 9,500-feet height begins from Chositi.

Chositi is about 90 kilometres from Kishtwar town. A 'langar' (community kitchen) packed with devotees bore the brunt of the...