Kishtwar District

Source: TOI

Context: A massive cloudburst struck Chosoti village in Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir, killing at least 12 people. The Machail Mata Yatra has been suspended as rescue and relief operations continue.

About Kishtwar District:

• What it is? A town, municipality, and administrative headquarters of Kishtwar district in Jammu & Kashmir.

• A town, municipality, and administrative headquarters of Kishtwar district in Jammu & Kashmir.

• Location: Situated in the Jammu division, ~209 km from Srinagar and ~211 km from Jammu.

• Region & Geography: Mountainous terrain, comparable to Himachal and Ladakh regions. Borders Himachal Pradesh (SE) and Doda district (SW). Receives significant snowfall in winter and habitation found at altitudes up to 9,500 ft.

• Mountainous terrain, comparable to Himachal and Ladakh regions.

• Borders Himachal Pradesh (SE) and Doda district (SW).

• Receives significant snowfall in winter and habitation found at altitudes up to 9,500 ft.

• Features: Known as the “Land of Saffron, Sapphire, and Shrines.” Rich in forests, tourist spots, health resorts, and historical monuments.

• Known as the “Land of Saffron, Sapphire, and Shrines.”

• Rich in forests, tourist spots, health resorts, and historical monuments.

About Machail Mata:

• What it is? A revered Hindu shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga, located in Machail village, Sub Division Paddar, Kishtwar district.

• A revered Hindu shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga, located in Machail village, Sub Division Paddar, Kishtwar district.

• Location: Situated near tributaries of the Chenab River and area also inhabited by Buddhist and Thakur communities (serpent worshippers).

• History: First visited in 1981 by Thakur Kulveer Singh of Bhaderwah. Since 1987, the annual ‘Chhadi Yatra’ (holy mace procession) has been conducted, starting from Chinote in Bhaderwah to Machail in Paddar.

• First visited in 1981 by Thakur Kulveer Singh of Bhaderwah.

• Since 1987, the annual ‘Chhadi Yatra’ (holy mace procession) has been conducted, starting from Chinote in Bhaderwah to Machail in Paddar.