34 houses collapse in rain, landslides
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: At least 34 houses collapsed due to rain and landslides across Jammu region while hundreds of vehicles have been stranded as Jammu- Srinagar National Highway remained to be blocked for the second consecutive day today.
Official sources said that while boulders and mudslides at about a dozen places between Nashri- Ramban and Banihal were cleared by the National Highway authorities today, the blockades at Cafeteria Morh, Monkey Morh and Dalwas area of Ramban could not be cleared.
Reports said massive landslides took place at Dalwas village between Ramban and Batote this morning where at least 25 houses were damaged. Out of the total, eight houses fully perished with the sinking of the mountainous land. Over 300 meters of the road has been damaged there. However, no loss of human life has been reported.
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The district administration, Ramban rushed to the site and launched rescue work. Some household goods of many villagers were saved and later shifted to the safer places. Some cattle said to have been perished in the tragedy. The Administration has assured to provide immediate help to the victims, the reports added.
SSP Traffic National Highway, JS Johar said that most of the landslides have been cleared in Ramban sector but major portion of the road was damaged at Dalwas today. It may take more than 10 hours to restore road at this place. Moreover, landslides at Cafeteria Morh and Monkey Morh are yet to be cleared tomorrow. There are bleak chances of road clearance by tomorrow evening, he added.
Meanwhile, with the road blockade on the second day today over 800 vehicles, mostly goods carriers and oil tankers have been stranded on both sides of the highway. Most of these vehicles are carrying essential commodities to Kashmir while 300 others are returning from valley. The Jammu-Rajouri road damaged in Kalidhar area was also restored today.
Another report from Udhampur said that four Kucha houses collapsed due to rain in the district since last night. The houses of Puran Singh and Pritam Singh, both residents of Badhota collapsed today, but the family members had miraculous escape. Two more houses of Kashmir Singh and Mohd Rashid collapsed at Lower Kandola in same Badhota Panchayat. House of Suram Chand at Malti in Dandota was damaged partially. However, no loss of human life was reported.
Another report from Reasi said that three houses were damaged in various areas of district Reasi. Muddy house of one Abdul Qayoom, son of Goja, resident of Sajanpur Chapperwari in Ransoo area collapsed due to heavy rain last night. Another house of one Lal Mohd, son of Bajad, resident of Chandi in Pouni area and the house of Raj Singh, son of Kirpa Ram, hailing from Kenthi-A Panchayat, were damaged in two separate incidents. The family members however, escaped to safety. A dozen sheep perished in Pouni incident.
Reports from Poonch said that Kucha house of one Tariq Hussain, son of Talib Hussain, resident of Salani village in Mendhar and another house of one Mehmood Ahmed, resident of Chhajla in Mankote, collapsed due to rain today. No one was killed or hurt in these incidents.
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