Jammu and Kashmir: 41 dead in rain-related disasters, CM Omar Abdullah reviews situation
At least 41 people have died so far in rain related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. Rescuers pulled out 24 bodies from under the debris in Vaishno Devi after Tuesday's landslides in Reasi district. Among the dead were 14 women. The administration has upped the rescue and relief operations in the Union Territory and CM Omar Abdullah is personally monitoring the entire situation.
New Delhi: The death toll in Jammu and Kashmir due to rainfall-related disasters reached 41. The highest number of casualties were reported from Vaishno Devi, where 34 people died. The death toll in Vaishno Dei increased after rescuers pulled out more bodies from under the debris.
Jammu and Kashmir floods
According to a report in PTI, rescuers said that out of bodies recovered from Vaishno Devi shrine, 24 had been identified. 14 of those killed after the landslide are women., On Tuesday a major landslide was reported from here, after continuous heavy rainfall.
The landslide on Tuesday hit the Reasi district on the pilgrimage route of Vaishno Devi. The exact place of the landslide was Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, which is about halfway along the trek from Katra. Officials quoted by PTI said that the mountainside gave way sending a torrent of stones, boulders, and rocks down onto the path, resulting in multiple casualties. The pilgrimage to the hilltop shrine was suspended following the disaster as rescue operations got underway.
New records of rainfall were set in the state, with Udhampur receiving 629.4 mm and Jammu 380 mm of rain in 24 hours since Tuesday morning. The water of Jhelum river entered several residential areas in Anantnag and Srinagar.
The Union Territory has reported severe damage to several bridges, private establishments and commercial establishments due to overflowing rivers and flash floods. So far around 10,000 people have been evacuated.
A Border Security Force (BSF_ jawan was swept away in Akhnoor sector. His body was recovered later.
CM Omar Abdullah reviews relief operations
Meanwhile following the disaster, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the Union Territory. He visited several flood-affected regions in Jammu to take stock of the damage caused due to the disaster.
He instructed officials to take all necessary measures to provide relief to the people impacted by floods and rains. Earlier, Abdullah had questioned as to why the Vaishno Dei pilgrimage was not stopped after the first landslide hit the region.
As of now the pilgrimage has been suspended.