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After devastating Aug 2025 cloud burst, Machail Mata Yatra commences with opening of temple’s door

Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 14: After a devastating cloud burst on August 14, 2025, this year’s annual Machail Mata Yatra began today with much enthusiasm and religious fervour.
The annual Shri Machail Mata Temple in Kishtwar reopens on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi, marking the start of the Yatra season. The reopening traditionally involves shifting the deity's idol and marks the beginning of the annual pilgrimage, with significant official preparations often reviewed during this time.
While the temple reopens on Baisakhi, the main yatra and formal rituals often see peak activity around late July.
A devastating cloudburst occurred on August 14, 2025 in Chashoti village in Kishtwar district, triggering flash floods that swept away homes, vehicles, and pilgrimage infrastructure along the Machail Mata Yatra route.
The sudden and intense downpour led to catastrophic flooding and debris flow in the remote mountain settlement, the last motorable point on the annual pilgrimage route. Many of the victims were local residents and pilgrims participating in the yatra.
A total of 63 identified and three unidentified individuals were killed, 31 people remain missing, and 13 others sustained injuries. In addition, five human limbs were recovered during rescue operations.
Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, along with SSP Naresh Singh, conducted a comprehensive review of arrangements during their two-day visit to Paddar, including a meeting at Gulabgarh and a public darbar at Machail.
The DC has directed the concerned departments to ensure adequate provision of basic amenities, including drinking water, electricity supply, sanitation facilities and healthcare services, for the convenience and safety of pilgrims.
The administration will also issue RFID cards to pilgrims, and the RFID-based tracking system will be made fully operational before the start of the Yatra.
The Deputy Commissioner has also directed the police department to strengthen security arrangements with additional deployment of personnel, installation of surveillance systems, and establishment of checkpoints along the Yatra route.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been directed to construct a temporary Bailey bridge at Chishoti village on the Atholi–Machail road for better connectivity, as the previous bridge was washed away in last year’s cloudburst.
The PWD (R&B) Department has been asked to complete ongoing works at Machail, including the Yatri Bhawan and Tehsil office, and to put in place an effective queue management system for the smooth conduct of the Yatra.
The Health Department has been directed to deploy medical teams at both Gulabgarh and Machail, equipped with essential diagnostic facilities such as blood pressure and blood sugar testing. The DC has instructed the issuance of duty rosters for doctors, ensuring availability of life-saving drugs at Machail and deployment of ambulances at strategic locations, including near Dashni Gate, to handle emergencies.
Telecom service providers have been asked to strengthen mobile connectivity along the Yatra route for the convenience of pilgrims.
The administration last year had come under severe criticism as the MeT Department had issued multiple alerts about possible cloudbursts and landslides, but the Machail Yatra was not stopped despite these warnings.