Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 5: While traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was restored this afternoon, three more dead bodies were recovered today from the debris of the house that collapsed on April 3 after being hit by a massive landslide triggered by incessant rains in Desa area of Doda district.
About 70 families from remote Mallei village in Kandni area of Inderwal in district Kishtwar have shifted to safer locations as over 2-3 sq km area of the mountain is sinking for the last three days.
While nearly 30 families shifted yesterday, 40 more families shifted at their own today to the houses of other villagers and a Government school building. This village is about 10 km from Kandni. Nobody from the administration, not even Patwari has reached to the villagers for any assistance, a victim Ghulam Rasool told the Excelsior on phone.
SSP Doda, Zahid Manhas said that three more bodies from the debris of the collapsed house were recovered at Dewalkote in Desa. With this, all the seven bodies of the people who died after being buried under the debris of the house that collapsed after being hit by a massive landslide have been recovered.
He said the house of one Satish Kumar, son of Jodh Ram had collapsed on April 3 after being hit by a massive landslide burying the debris under more than 18 feet of mud and slush. “We put in our best efforts with the help of Army but were forced to suspend the rescue operation last evening because of heavy thunder-storm followed by snowfall,” Mr Manhas said.
He said that the rescue operation was resumed early morning today after the weather showed some improvement.
“Today early morning as the weather cleared we resumed the operation and finally managed to recover three more bodies from the debris of the collapsed house,” he said.
The absence of road connectivity, hostile weather and inaccessible area, it took rescuers three days to retrieve the bodies from the debris.
IG Traffic, J&K, J P Singh told the Excelsior that one way traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was restored at around 4 pm today. He said fresh landslide at Peerah has created much trouble. About 150 mt road has sunk there. About 700 Jammu bound stranded vehicles have been cleared.
The BRO men were on the job to improve the road at Peera sliding area and after the road is improved the heavy traffic to Kashmir would be allowed to ply tonight. He disclosed that all the Traffic officials deputed on Highway are monitoring the traffic regulation and nearly 4000 vehicles to Valley would be cleared by morning. The other land slides at Gangroo, Magarkote, Hingni and Nashri have been cleared, the IG maintained.
Referring to the condition of Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road, the IG said that this link could not be restored today. It is hoped that the road would be cleared by tomorrow, provided the weather remained favourable.
Reports from Poonch said that dead body of the villager, who was washed away in Suran river last evening was recovered from Lasana area today. The deceased has been identified as Ghulam Qadir (45), son of Rahim Sheikh, resident of Baila in Mandi. He had come to house of his relative at Dandi Dhara near Fagla. He was returning to his home.
SDPO Ajay Sharma along with SHO Zahid Mushtaq reached there after receiving information and then removed the body to local hospital. After completion of all the formalities, the body was returned to the family members.
Meanwhile, reports from Reasi said that four houses were partially damaged in Masnot area of Reasi. Ten goats of one Mohd Rafiq, son of Dil Mohammed, resident of Lair village in Pouni were killed due to landslide. These goats had taken refuge under a hollow space at the foot-hill. They were buried alive. The villager reported the matter to Police Station. Tehsildar Babu Ram and police party also visited the spot along with Veterinary team.
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