House collapses due to rain in Kathua, 5 dead
Jammu (IANS). Five people were killed in a house collapse due to incessant rains in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Wednesday.
Two houses collapsed due to heavy rains in Bani area of Kathua district, officials said. Five people died in both these incidents. “Due to heavy rains, the houses of Mushtaq Ahmed and Abdul Qayyum in Surjan Morha Aruad block of Bani collapsed,” police said.
Five people, including children, were buried under the debris of these houses. Rescue operations are on to retrieve the bodies. SDM Satish Kumar said there were reports of flash floods and landslides in other areas and rescue teams have been deployed.
He has announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 for the dead and Rs 25,000 for the injured. Meanwhile, rains lashed various parts of Jammu damaged roads and all major rivers including Tawi, Chenab, Basantar, Devak and Ujh were flowing above the danger mark.
Authorities have ordered closure of all schools in Kathua, Doda, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts due to flooding of water bodies due to heavy rains. The passage of pilgrims on Vaishno Devi Yatra and Amarnath Yatra was also suspended.
The new route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine has been closed due to bad weather conditions, officials said. Helicopter services have also been suspended in Reasi district, while schools in upper reaches of Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri and Kathua have also been closed due to inclement weather.
