Srinagar: Eight persons including four members of a family were killed and dozens were wounded after flash floods were triggered by a cloudburst in Thathri town of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday morning.
Reports said that many areas along the Batote-Kishtwar Highway were inundated while dozens of structures suffered massive damages.
Rescue operations were launched to evacuate trapped people. An official said dozens of people who were under debris and trapped in houses were rescued. While confirming the death of eight persons, the official said that more casualties are feared.
According to locals, cloud burst hit Thathri during the dead of the night when people were asleep. It triggered flash floods as the level of water and slit rose in the nallah. The slit and gushing waters washed away many structures.
The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway (NH1B) was closed due to huge boulders at Thathri market triggered by the cloudburst.
Water supply pipes and power supply remained snapped in the area.
A police official said that the extent of damage could not be ascertained immediately, however, he said that the bodies of eight persons have been recovered so far while 11 wounded people have been shifted to hospital for treatment. “Six houses, two shops and a private school building have been damaged,” he said.
“As of now, six persons including five women have died and their bodies recovered from the debris. 11 people have been injured and rescued from the debris. They have been shifted to hospital”, a police spokesman said.
Dev Raj of Nagni village lost his 40-year-old wife Naru Devi, daughters – 14-year-old Sapna Devi and 7-year-old Priya Devi and 9-year-old son Rahul. Their bodies have been recovered, police said.
Some of the injured were identified as Tanvira Bano, Zaitoona Begam, Muzaffar Hussain, Pushpinder Singh, Mansoor Ahmed, Shazia Begam, Mehnaza Anjum, Fiza Anjum, Sheeza Anjum and Abdul Aziz.
Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference Patron Dr Farooq Abdullah and former CM Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed their sympathies to the families of those killed in the cloudburst triggered flash floods in Thathri town of Doda district.
“Governor is saddened to also learn about the damage to residential and commercial properties and a school, caused by the flash floods. He has advised urgent start of the work for the restoration of the damaged properties and provision of relief,” a communiqué reads.
Mehbooba Mufti has directed the District administration to intensify rescue and rehabilitation operations, provide adequate hospital treatment to the injured and make arrangements of shelter, food and other facilities for the people affected by the cloudburst and consequent flashfloods.
Dr Farooq and Omar Abdullah prayed for peace to the departed souls and wished speedy recovery to those injured in the natural calamity. They expressed solidarity with families who lost their dear ones in the tragedy and sought specialized treatment of all the injured.
Condoling the deaths Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said the necessary instructions have already been passed to the concerned to ensure proper rehabilitation of the persons whose property has been damaged due to the natural calamity.
In his condolence message the advisor to Chief Minister Prof. Amitabh Mattoo expressed solidarity with the families who lost their dear ones in this tragic incident. He said directions have been passed to officials to start relief and rehabilitation work without any delay.
Condoling the deaths Minister for Food supplies, Consumer Affairs and Information Chowdhry Zulfkar Ali asked the administration to rush with men and machinery for carrying out rescue and rehabilitation for the affected people.
Condoling the deaths the Revenue Minister Ab Rehman Veeri impressed on officials to reach out the affected people and ensure their rehabilitation. He also directed the district administration to ensure food and shelter is provided to the affected families.
