Srinagar, July 20, 2023 (PPI-OT): Eight people, including a toddler have died in separate incidents of landslides and flash floods triggered by a fresh spell of rainfall in the hilly parts of the Jammu region in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Two houses collapsed in the Surjan area of Kathua’s Bani due to heavy rain. “A total of five persons, including children and a woman, got buried under these houses,” said a police officer.

“The houses belonging to Mushtaq Ahmed and Abdul Qayum collapsed in Surjan Morha Aruad Block in Bani due to heavy rainfall. Five persons, including children, got buried under the debris of these houses. A rescue operation is underway to retrieve the bodies,” said Arjun Mangotra, Station House Officer Bani. In three other separate incidents died after coming under a landslide in the Bani area of the district.

Meanwhile, rain lashed various parts of Jammu, damaging roads with all major rivers, including Tawi, Chenab, Basanter, Devak, and Ujh, flowing above the danger mark. Authorities ordered the closure of all schools in Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, and Kishtwar districts because of heavy rain causing swelling of water bodies. Vaishno Devi Yatra and the passage of pilgrims on the Amarnath Yatra were also temporarily suspended.

They said that a fresh batch of 4,900 pilgrims, which left for the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir valley, has been halted at Yatri Niwas Chanderkote in Ramban due to shooting stones and landslides. Jammu-Pathankot road in Kathua was also closed and a bridge in Chadwal suffered damage. Four passengers were injured after a Tata Sumo vehicle they were traveling in plunged into a rivulet in Mendhar area of Poonch district.

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