AKIPRESS.COM - A massive cloudburst hit a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, claiming 50 lives so far. Around 100 people were injured and taken to hospitals, The Indian Express reported.

More than 50 people are missing.

Most of the victims were pilgrims walking from Chositi vilage to the Hindu temple of Machail Mata.

The local authorities are at the site supervising rescue operations. The National Disaster Response Force and the army have joined the operations as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that the situation is being closely monitored.

"My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The situation is being monitored closely. Rescue and relief operations are underway. Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need," he said.

According to locals, when the rain began, the water level rose sharply and people were washed away by the cloudburst in a matter of seconds.