Nishikant Khajuria
UDHAMPUR, Mar 10: In a tragic incident, five members of a family, including four children and their mother were buried alive when a massive boulder fell on their house in a remote village of Ghordi Block in Ramnagar tehsil, late last night.
The tragedy struck the house of Raj Singh (38), son of Munshi Ram at Ward number 5, village Khuia in Upper Barmeen, Block Ghordi during the intervening night of March 9-10 when the family members were fast asleep.
Wife of Raj Singh and his four children, including three daughters and a son, reportedly died on the spot as boulder fell on portion of their Kachha house where the family was sleeping. Raj Singh also sustained serious injuries in the mishap and was admitted in District Hospital Udhampur. His condition was stated to be out of danger.
The deceased were identified as Sharda Devi (35) wife of Raj Singh, their daughters Aarti Devi (16), Anu Devi (14), Swani Devi (12) and son Pawan Singh (10).
The mishap took place when a loose rock rolled down and hit the house, killing five of the family members on the spot. After being informed by the locals, SDRF and Police team launched rescue operation in the wee hours.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Piyush Singla and SSP Udhampur, Rajeev Pandey also rushed to the spot and personally monitored the rescue operation, during which five dead bodies were recovered from the debris.
DC Piyush Singla has announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 20 lakh in favour of the next of kin of the deceased besides free treatment to injured Raj Singh.
Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, who represents Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha, also got in touch with the local administration and issued necessary instructions for adequate treatment to the injured besides providing ex-gratia to next of the kin of the deceased.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
