‘Give Us Closure’: Families of Kishtwar Cloudburst Victims Hold Protest

Months after the devastating cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district claimed dozens of lives, families of victims and missing persons on Friday staged a protest demanding justice, compensation, and immediate issuance of death certificates .

Holding photographs of their missing relatives outside the Press Club, the protesters accused authorities of prolonged inaction and administrative delays that have left many families without closure. The tragedy struck Chisoti village, the gateway to the Machail Mata temple on August 14 last year, killing 65 people , mostly pilgrims, while over 30 persons remain officially missing .

Relatives said the absence of formal death certificates has prevented them from conducting last rites and completing legal and financial formalities. Many alleged that repeated appeals to the administration have yielded no concrete response.

“We have been running from pillar to post seeking justice,” said Mandeep Kumar from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, who lost his wife and mother-in-law in the disaster. He claimed their bodies were never recovered and no official confirmation has been provided so far.

Several families from Punjab and Jammu regions shared similar concerns, saying they continue to oscillate between hope and despair as they await clarity on the fate of their loved ones. Protesters also alleged that files related to compensation and certification remain pending in administrative offices.

The issue has highlighted the larger challenges faced after natural disasters in remote mountainous regions , where recovery operations, identification of victims, and bureaucratic procedures often take months. Families said the prolonged uncertainty has deepened their trauma and urged authorities to expedite documentation and relief measures to help them attain closure.