Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 19: Four members of a family were buried alive while six others injured in a house collapse near Ramkote area of Billawar early today, eight Gujjar families were evacuated to safer places after massive flood in Tarnah river near Hiranagar while three persons trapped in flood hit Basantar river were rescued by the villagers from Samba area, and two pilgrims were washed away in Ban Ganga near Katra while heavy rain during last night affected normal life in several districts in the region.
Reports from Kathua said that during heavy rain last night muddy house of a Gujjar family collapsed at around 4 am today. Entire family was sleeping when the incident occurred. Four children in the age group of 8 to 12 years were killed while six other members were injured. After a wall collapsed entire house with tin- roof fell on the family as it was raining heavily at that time.
The injured raised alarm and some people of the area rushed there. They removed some of the injured from the debris and saved but four children had already died under the debris. The stones of the wall had hit the heads of most of the deceased who died on the spot.
They were identified as Mohd Ramzan (10) and Mohd Din (8), sons of Roshan Din, Ali Mohd (11), son of Mohd Aziz and Mohd Shafi, son of Saif Din, resident of Chinji-Makwal in Ramkote of tehsil Billawar.
The six injured persons could not be evacuated to hospital for long as there was massive flood in two nallahs enroute. Even the police and officials from Tehsil Headquarter could not reach there up to 1.30 pm. As the water level receded, the injured were evacuated to Ramkote hospital.
The injured were identified as Qasim Din (50), son of Ilam Din, Mohd Rafiq (15), son of Roshan Din, Abdul Majid (10), son of Qasim Din, Taj Din (20), son of Qasim Din, Ilam Din, son of Nawab and Rani Begum (20), daughter of Mohd Aziz. All the injured were undergoing treatment in Ramkote and Billawar hospitals.
MOS Cooperatives Dr Manohar Lal Sharma who is also legislator from Billawar, along with Additional DC S K Meena, SDM Billawar Vikas Gupta and SDPO Basohli, Mohd Rafiq, visited the spot. SHO Billawar and Tehsildar Mr Narinder were already camping there since morning. The police after completion of legal formalities later performed last rites of the dead in presence of surviving family members, relatives and villagers. The Minister and SDM also visited hospital to see the injured.
Mr Sharma directed the administration to provide immediate relief out of Red Cross Fund to the victims and free ration besides assistance for construction of house. The villagers demanded foot bridge at two points as they remain cut off during flood in the nallahs.
Meanwhile, heavy flood was witnessed in river Ujh, Tarnah, Basantar and Tawi today. Flooded nallahs affected movement of traffic on highway and many link roads. Eight Gujjar families were revacuated to safer places after flood water of Tarnah entered into their habitation at Saplah, near the river bank in Hiranagar area this morning. Their belongings were damaged in the flood water.
AC Revenue Kathua, Tehsildar Hiranagar Rajeev Magotra and DySP border visited the affected families. The administration also provided free ration to the families. They were warned to stay away from the river bank during the rainy season. The flood has also caused damage to standing crop at the bank of river Tarnah and Ujh.
DC Kathua Zahida Khan said that Administration has provided ex-gratio relief worth Rs 4 lakh to the family which lost their four members in house collapse in Ramkote area today. She said she has already directed Tehsildar and SDM to recommend cases so that some more assistance could be provided. She also assured help for reconstruction of their house. She said in Hiranagar area also some flood hit families were evacuated and they were provided free ration and other items by Tehsil administration.
Reports from Samba said that three persons trapped along with a truck in Basantar river near Tainth village were rescued during mid night. It said a truck got struck in sandy river bed late last evening. The driver, cleaner and a labourer tried hard to take out the vehicle but could not do so till mid night and slept in the vehicle. Due to heavy rain in the upper reaches the flood water started rising and they found them self trapped in flood. Then they raised alarm. The villagers along with some ropes reached for help and evacuated all the three at around 5 am. The loaded truck remained struck in the river for hours and could be dragged out in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, two Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims were washed away in flash flood in Ban Ganga near Katra late last evening. Some people including children were taking bath in Ban Ganga after performing Darshan. Due to sudden flash flood four persons started getting washed away. Two were saved by people while two others were washed away. Their bodies could be recovered about 4-5 km down stream at around 10. 30 am today.
The deceased were identified as Himanshu (9), son of Satish Kumar Sharma of Kaithal (Harayana) and Sahil Ahuja (20), son of Surinder Ahuja resident of Dharampur in Punjab. Their bodies after completion of legal formalities were handed over to the families.
Another report said that due to land slides near Rehmbal in Udhampur, the traffic on national highway was disrupted for some time. However, the traffic police authorities diverted the vehicles on Udhampur Bypass road. The slides could be cleared after 4-5 hours. The movement of traffic on Katra-Tikri road and Katra Reasi road was also disrupted for some time due to land slides. However, the traffic was restored after 2-3 hours. It was also diverted to the alternative routs. Massive flood in river Tawi also caused damage to the crop in several low lying villages and also the land erosion. The water level however, remained below danger mark.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel