Srinagar, Aug. 19 -- The tragedy struck on August 14, when flash floods triggered by the cloudburst swept through Chisoti, the last motorable village on the route to the Machail Mata shrine. So far, 65 people have been confirmed dead and 167 rescued. At least 39 others are still missing.

At her modest home in Digiana, on the outskirts of Jammu city-nearly 300 km away from the disaster site-the elderly woman sits surrounded by her four daughters, her eyes fixed on the door with an unspoken prayer on her lips. She has refused food for days, waiting for news about her son Sahil Sharma (33), his wife Lovely (32) and their 11-year-old son, Raghav.

"My mother is not in a position to speak to anyone. She keeps praying and hasn't eaten. We stil...