SRINAGAR: At least eight persons including eight persons including a woman and her children were feared dead in house collapse and bridge collapse accidents triggered by heavy snowfall and rains that continued for more than three days across Jammu and Kashmir.
All the three road-links to Kashmir valley from Jammu region remained blocked due landslides and heavy accumulation of snow. The traffic movement on Jamm-Srinagar Highway-44 was disrupted due to heavy rains and snowfall that triggered landslides at several places. Around 500 passengers stranded on the highway due to disruption in traffic movement were provided support by the police and other emergency and relief agencies.
A woman and her three minor daughters, aged two to five were killed while two other family members were injured when the mud-thatched house, they were living in collapsed due to incessant rains and snowfall in Chassana tehsil of Reasi district. The bodies of the deceased have been retrieved from beneath the collapsed house while the injured family members were shifted to the hospital.
Reasi deputy commissioner Vishesh Paul said a mud house collapsed at Kunderdhan Mohra village in Chassana tehsil on Saturday night following a landslide.
“The tragic incident resulted in the collapse of the house, killing a woman and her three daughters. I have directed the SDM (sub-divisional magistrate) and the tehsildar to facilitate the best treatment to the injured,” Paul told reporters in Jammu.
Officials identified the victims as Phalla Akhter, 30, and her daughters Nasima, 5, Safeena Kousar, 3, and Samreen Kousar, 2.
Two elderly family members were injured. They have been identified as Kalu, son of Juma, aged about 60 years, and Bano Begum, wife of Kalu, aged about 58 years.
Locals said there was a heavy downpour in the area during the past 48 hours. The house is located on a hilly terrain that had received mild snowfall.
Locals had a tough time in rescuing the injured and recovering the bodies of the victims. The ramshackle house has been razed to the ground. The emergency and relief agencies could not reach the affected village due to delay in receipt of information as the area is very remote.
Most parts of Jammu and Kashmir have received incessant rain and snow over the past few days, triggering landslides, blocking the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and causing damage to houses and orchards.
The weather-related casualties came a day after two civilians died in other parts of Jammu due to heavy rain.
Three persons went missing on Sunday after an old bridge collapsed in Mohra Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.
Reports said that three persons went missing after they fell into river Jhelum while removing old bridge in north Kashmir’s Uri Baramulla.
Soon after the incident a rescue operation was launched by Police, Army and Civil administration besides joined by local volunteers.
The officials identified the missing persons as Shakeel Ahmad Mir son of Sayeed-ullah Mir of Kupwara, Bilal Ahmad Reshi son of Abdul Ahad Reshi of Arizal Budgam and Mohammad Aslam Chauhan of Anantnag.
In another accident, a minor boy lost his life and another was rescued after they drowned in Nallah Mundji, located in the north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday.
According to officials, the two boys slipped into the Nallah while in their native village. Prompt rescue efforts ensued, with both boys swiftly retrieved from the water and rushed to SDH Sopore for urgent medical attention.
Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, Sabiq Mushtaq, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, passed away at the hospital.
The other minor boy, Areeb Bashir Mir, son of Bashir Ahmad Mir, who was also rescued, is stated to be stable.
Heavy snowfall continues in J&K
Heavy snowfall in upper reaches and incessant rains continued in plain areas across of Jammu and Kashmir during the past three days. The snow accumulation was more than one and a half feet in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg areas.
Highway remains blocked
Meanwhile, traffic officials said the Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for the second day running. The officials have advised people against travelling on the road.
An official said there were multiple landslides on the highway, prompting substantial rescue efforts during which scores of stranded persons were shifted to safer accommodations in Ramban district. The travellers included nearly 200 tourists, they said.
The government has set up police control rooms across districts to coordinate response efforts, officials said.
In view of single lane and poor surface of the road at Dalwas, Mehad-Cafeteria, Panthyal, Nachlana, Gangroo, Hingni, Kishtwari Pather only one way traffic shall be allowed on Jammu Srinagar Highway-44 till the road is fit for two-way traffic movement. Subject to fair weather and good road condition, only one way traffic from Jammu towards Srinagar shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) from 0600 hrs to 1200 hrs.
The intending travellers have advised to be alert while traveling and be cautious of shooting stones and landslides and avoid travel, if not necessary. Thereafter heavy motor vehicles shall be allowed from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Kashmir up to 1800 after assessment of road condition. No Vehicle shall be allowed after cut off timing.
Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari Road is still blocked due to snow accumulation. Shopian-Surankot Mughal Road is still blocked due to snow accumulation. Bhaderwah-Chamba Road is blocked due to snow accumulation. Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road is also blocked due to snow accumulation.
Politicians appeal for help
Politicians have asked the government to help people.
Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the deaths of four members of a family in Reasi.
“In addition, they (Farooq and Omar) are concerned about extensive damage suffered by upper areas in Kulgam and Anantnag due to strong winds last night. They stand in unwavering solidarity with the affected families and demand that the government must officially acknowledge it as a disaster and provide immediate relief to the affected families,” an NC spokesman said.
He said that LG should direct the concerned district administration to provide all possible aid to the bereaved families who have lost their near and dear ones as well as medical assistance to the injured.”
Expressing anguish over the havoc caused by the weather fury, Dr. Farooq demanded that the weather fury across Jammu and Kashmir should be declared as a national disaster and start restoration of surface commute and basic utility services in the affected areas on a war footing.
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, on Sunday, called upon the Lieutenant Governor (LG) administration to step forward and provide necessary assistance and compensation to the people who have suffered significant losses due to the recent rainfall and gusty winds in several areas across Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasised the urgency of dispatching official teams to conduct a thorough assessment of the damage in the affected areas.
CPI(M) Secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik has expressed deep concern over the massive damage caused to households, orchardists, whose residential houses, structures, rooftops and orchards got damaged due to heavy windstorm and incessant rains across Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.
He also demanded relief for those who died in Chassana area of Reasi district when their house collapsed.
Schools in avalanche prone areas to remain closed on Mar 4, 5
District administration Kupwara on Sunday informed that schools in avalanche prone areas in the district will remain closed on March 4 and 5 for safety and well-being of teachers and students.
An official told KNS that keeping in view the recent heavy snowfall followed by avalanche warning issued by JKDMA and to ensure safety of Students & Teachers, all the schools in the areas of Keran, Budnambal, Jumagund, Kumkadi, Machil and upper reaches of Karnah sub-division shall remain closed on 4th & 5th of March-2024.
It is worthwhile to mention here that all educational institutions, both government and private will reopen tomorrow after long spell of winter break.
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