Two children die in Kathua house collapse; 3 men washed away in flash floods

Flood fury in Surankote area, many vehicles washed away, people trapped; Doda Admn issues advisory

STATE TIMES NEWS

KATHUA/DODA: A house collapsed following heavy rains in Kathua district on Sunday, leaving two children dead, officials said, adding that three people were washed away in a flash flood amid heavy rainfall in the district, officials said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed the district administration to provide necessary assistance to the affected family.
“The loss of innocent lives due to house collapse in Billawar is extremely unfortunate and tragic. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief”, the LG said.
The officials said that three were washed away in the district’s Tarnah nallah, adding that rescue operations have been started.
The three people have been identified as Dev Raj (50), Bablu (48) and Kamal Singh (60) – all residents of Sallan, they said.
The district administration has issued a fresh advisory asking people not to venture out to places near the Chenab river, its tributaries and other water bodies in the wake of increasing water levels amid heavy downpour.
Meanwhile, heavy floods were reported in Surankote area on Sunday evening in which many vehicles were washed away and many people got trapped. Acting swiftly, army and police launched rescue operation.
Incessant rains and flash floods have wreaked havoc across Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts as several foot bridges have been washed away, including the one at Afti in Warwan. District Magistrate, Doda, Vikas Sharma issued the advisory amid incessant rains and reports of mud-slides and increasing water levels in tributaries of Chenab, including Neeru and Kalnai.
The advisory asked people not to venture near the water bodies and urged commuters not to travel on Kishtwar- Batote and Bhadarwah – Pathankot national highways beside Bhadarwah – Chamba interstate road and other interior roads as sudden cloudbursts have triggered flash floods and continuous mud-slides at many places.
“People are advised not to travel on any of the interior roads of the districts and highways without confirmation. Besides, they should also avoid going near water bodies especially Chenab as water is flowing dangerously resulting in sudden sinking of land,” said Sharma.
Dozens of houses and structures in Kuthal area of Kahara, Gandoh, Chirala were damaged, some foot bridges washed away and scores of vehicles stuck on roads and highways at various places of the region amid heavy rainfall.
No loss of life has, however, been reported from any part of the district.