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.
- 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.
- Features:
- 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.
- 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.
