The ghost of the 2005 snow tsunami has returned to haunt Jammu and Kashmir.
SRINAGAR: The ghost of the 2005 snow tsunami has returned to haunt Jammu and Kashmir. Four people were killed and two others injured in fresh snow avalanches in two different parts of Kashmir on Friday, taking the toll in the recent natural calamity above 15 in the last four days.
Around 40 people, trapped in the massive snow avalanches that hit Gulab Bagh village in Qazigund area of south Kashmir, were rescued by the police and army. More than 30 structures collapsed due to the heavy snow in different parts of the valley.
Police said a massive snow avalanche hit the house of Abdul Ahad Baba at Nayal village of Gurez valley in the border district of Bandipora. “We have recovered the body of Sitara Begum from the snow,” said Mehboob Iqbal, divisional commissioner Kashmir.
Superintendent of police, Kulgam, Swayam Prakash Pani added, “Gulab Bagh area has received more than 11 feet snow during the last three days, which has triggered snow avalanches in the area. A house was hit by the avalanche in which one Mohammad Shafi Chechi was buried alive. We rescued 32 villagers,” said Pani.
Director general of Jammu and Kashmir police, Kuldeep Khoda on Friday announced a cash reward of Rs50,000 for the police party which rescued the 32 people buried under the avalanche.
“We have shifted 225 people from Waltangu Nar to safer places in Kulgam area,” said Hemant Kumar Lohia, deputy inspector general of police, south Kashmir range.
Another avalanche was also reported in Kapral in south Kashmir. While one child was rescued, five people are still missing. Dan Masta, another village was also hit, leaving six dead.
Around 1,000 trucks and 200 small vehicles were still stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. J&K CM Ghulam Nabi Azad said free food would be provided to the stranded passengers at Jammu. “Air Force planes would also be pressed into service to ferry the stranded passengers should the need arise,” he said. Divisional commissioner Kashmir Mehboob Iqbal said army too has joined the rescue efforts.
h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net
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