Fresh landslips claim two lives in J&K as torrential rain continues

Two more people were killed in landslips triggered by monsoon rains on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir taking the toll to four over the past three days. Rains have caused flash floods and damaged highways in the Union Territory (UT).

Two bodies were recovered from a tent on Wednesday morning near Shiv Gufa in Badora, Mahore, Reasi. Initial reports suggested the victims, Rashpal Singh, 26, a resident of Tuli Kalawan, Reasi, and Ravi Kumar, 23, a resident of Chenani, Udhampur, were inside the tent near a cave when a landslip hit them. Three people were sleeping inside the tent at the time of the incident.

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences over the loss of lives. “The landslide incident at Badora in Reasi is saddening. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved family members who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest,” L-G Sinha said.

Earlier, two locals were killed in two separate landslips in the Pir Panjal valley.

Army helicopter rescues child

In a separate incident, a child trapped by flash floods in a river near Muradpur, Rajouri, was rescued by an Army helicopter. Locals have praised the Army and district administration.

Parts of J&K witnessed intermittent but torrential rains for the third day on Wednesday. Rains triggered landslips on the Srinagar-Jammu and the Sinthan-Kishtwar highways. A police spokesman said traffic was partially restored in the afternoon on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway after it was closed for many hours. Stranded vehicles were being cleared and moved to safe places, officials said. 

Vehicles carrying pilgrims returning from the Amarnath Yatra in the Kashmir Valley, were halted at Banihal, Qazigund, and Mir Bazar for the night due to landslips on the highway. Meanwhile, officials said explosives have been employed to remove boulders on the highway, mainly in the mountainous Ramban district.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department has warned of heavy rainfall in the coming 24 hours in Anantnag, Kulgam, Doda, Reasi, and Udhampur. Many districts in the Pir Panjal valley have decided to close schools as a precautionary measure.

Poonch district was the worst affected by the landslips and flash flooding. Vikas Kundal, Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, visited Drungali, Dingla, and adjoining areas to assess the flood situation and flow levels of water bodies. He also urged the public to refrain from venturing into riverbeds and other landslide-prone zones for their safety.