Rain fury continues; 1 dead, highway shut
MONSOON IN J&K Two bridges washed away; water enters houses in Jammu; rains hinder reopening of highway to Srinagar
JAMMU/SRINAGAR : A 35-year-old nomad and four to five buffaloes were killed after a cattle shed collapsed in Mendhar area of Poonch district during heavy rains that lashed Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said.
A foot bridge also collapsed in adjoining Rajouri district while the 270-km long Jammu-srinagar national highway remained blocked for the second consecutive day after a stretch of the highway was partially washed away in rains on Tuesday at Dalwas.
“The stretch at Dalwas has not been restored as yet because of incessant rainfall,” said an official.
“A cattle shed collapsed in Sangiote village of Mendhar in Poonch district early Wednesday. Several cattle were stuck in it. A rescue operation has been launched by the locals,” said Ramesh Kumar Angral, senior superintendent of police, Poonch.
He said Mohammad Shokit, 35, son of Mohammad Hussain, a resident of Kallar Mora in Mendhar also died in the incident.
A bridge over Balol Nullah (rivulet) that connects Jeevan Nagar with Dharap on the outskirts of Jammu city was washed away in flashfloods. Jammu and Kashmir Police have issued an alert advising people to stay away from rivers and rivulets.
IAF RESCUES MAN STRANDED ON ISLAND
The Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued a man who was stuck on a marooned island in Naushera sector of Rajouri district late evening, said defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said.
The man was handed over to the authorities for treatment.
Meanwhile, 15 persons, belonging to different families, were rescued after they were caught in flash floods in Ujh river in Kathua district, police said.
HIGH PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD RAINS
Sonam Lotus, director of the IMD in J&K and Ladakh said, “Light to moderate rain occurred at many places in J&K with heavy to very heavy showers at isolated places whereas weather is generally cloudy in Ladakh with light rain in some areas.” He said the rains may cause flashfloods and landslides in vulnerable spots, especially in hilly areas of J&K, Zoji La and Leh-manali routes from Wednesday to Friday.