Eight dead in rain-related tragedies in J&K’s Kathua

Jammu: Seven Jammu/Srinagar: At least eight people died in four rain-related accidents in Bani area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Wednesday, even as district authorities closed schools in Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri and the hilly belt of Kathua due to heavy showers and resultant landslides. Meanwhile, Vaishno Devi and Amarnath Yatra were temporarily suspended in view of inclement weather.Five people — Nazia (10), Mohammad Asif (12), Zareena Begum (40), Shahbaj (14) and Arbaz (2) — were buried alive after two houses collapsed in Bani’s Surjan area due to heavy rain. A massive rescue operation was underway to trace the body of Arbaz, Kathua SSP Shivdeep Singh said, adding that one person injured in the tragedy was shifted to a nearby medical facility.In Bani’s Mandhota tehsil, a woman identified as Naseema Begum died in a landslide, while in Sitti tehsil, a class 7 student identified as Ajay Singh was buried alive in another landslide. One more person, identified as Sham Lal from Bhullari, also died in a landslide. Meanwhile, nine civilians trapped in flash floods in Ujh river were rescued by a joint team of SDRF and police, the SSP said.Bani sub-divisional magistrate Satish Kumar announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 25,000 for each injured. He said flash floods and landslides had occurred in other areas too and rescue teams had been dispatched accordingly.Heavy rain lashed various parts of Jammu division, damaging roads, with all major rivers including Tawi (where water crossed the alert level of 14ft), Chenab, Basanter, Devak and Ujh flowing above the danger mark. With the holy town of Katra in Reasi district receiving the highest rainfall, officials said the new track to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine was closed while chopper services to the site remained suspended. A fresh batch of 4,900 pilgrims, which left for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, was halted at Yatri Niwas Chanderkote, in Ramban district, in view of shooting stones and landslides.While predicting very heavy rain this week, the Met department advised people to remain cautious and away from streams, rivers, and other vulnerable spots as the risks of flash floods, mudslides and landslides had risen.Kathua’s Chadwal bridge was damaged due to flash floods, causing traffic snarls. The Jammu-Pathankot road in the district remained closed due to a flood-like situation in Tarnah Nullah and a bridge on the canal was heavily damaged. Traffic had to be diverted through the border road. Meanwhile, the restoration work on Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which had been closed due to heavy rains, was underway in full swing, an official said.rains.