Mother, daughter among 6 killed due to landslides

Locals clearing the debris to retrieve the dead bodies in Gandoh, Doda on Monday. -Excelsior/Rafi Choudhary
Locals clearing the debris to retrieve the dead bodies in Gandoh, Doda on Monday. -Excelsior/Rafi Choudhary

Cattle perish; mud houses, standing crops damaged
Ajay Raina
JAMMU, Sept 24: Six persons including mother-daughter duo were killed and several cattle perished due to landslides and heavy rainfall in Doda and Kathua districts today.
As per reports, two family members among five persons were killed when the mud house of Noor Mohammad, son of Mehar Din came under massive landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Bhatoli area of Tehsil Gandoh during the intervening night of September 23 and 24.
On getting information, police team rushed to the spot and with the help of locals started rescue operation. After hectic efforts, the bodies of the deceased persons were retrieved and shifted to hospital.
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The deceased have been identified as Bashir Ahmed (24), son of Noor Mohammad, Zulfie Banoo (13), daughter of Noor Mohammad, Mohammad Shairf (12), son of Shoket Ali, Tasleema Banoo (2), daughter of Fareed Ahmed, Nagina Bano (20), wife of Fareed Ahmed, all residents of Bhatoli.
In the incident, around 2 dozen cattle also perished.
Meanwhile, flash floods due to inclement rains in Ujh, Bhinni, Naaz, Sewa and Ravi rivers and landsliding have caused huge damage to Government and private properties besides standing maize and paddy crops. Besides this, more than two dozen mud houses got partially damaged due to heavy rains across Kathua district. Link roads to Bani, Basholi and Billawar also got damaged due to landslides at several places.
A woman identified as Hajra Begum (47), wife of Nazir Ahmed, a resident of Malhar was killed due to landslide and 30 sheep and goats perished due to rainfall in Bani and Lohai Malhar blocks of Kathua district.
An official team with the support of local people rescued eight members of Gujjar family which includes two women and four children from Bhinni river at village Berial of Parnalla Panchayat after 12 hours of hectic efforts. A van and a motorcycle were washed away due to flash flood at village Berial. The approach road towards Bhinni bridge also got damaged.
When contacted, DC Kathua Rohit Khajuria told the Excelsior that around 80 families were rescued during night long operation from various areas of the district. He said a contingent of SDRF, Civil Defence and Jammu Kashmir Police (JKP) was framed to rescue the affected people in different areas of the district. He has asked the people to remain alert in view of heavy rains and landslides.

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