The Hindu : Front Page : Over 100 killed in Kashmir avalanches

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Over 100 killed in Kashmir avalanches

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, FEB. 21. More than 100 people, including 26 children and 18 women, are feared killed in the avalanches that swept a number of villages in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag on Sunday night.

According to officials, the toll could go up as many areas are still inaccessible.

So far, 85 bodies have been recovered in Kund and Dooru areas of the district. Agency reports said that about 230 people were missing. Rescue teams have been rushed on ponies.

The Deputy Police Commissioner, Baseer Khan, and the Superintendent of Police, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, who are camping in Anantnag, said that 66 bodies had been recovered from Naginpora, Waltengoo and Yechgum of Kulgam and 16 from Bringnar in the Dooru area. These areas are located on the Pirpanchal foothills and witnessed heavy snowfall during the last four days.

Even as the snowfall stopped last evening, the avalanches started during the night and caught the residents unawares.

"A vast area in the Kund belt of Kulgam police district is under a thick blanket of snow," an official told The Hindu. "We do not have the exact number of missing persons obviously because there is no way anyone can trek through forests in such weather to inform the administration."

Reports said the avalanches and landslips had almost buried the three hamlets of Naginpora Nar, Panzgam and Watlungu Nar as the belt recorded 10 to 15 feet snowfall. The Kund is located close to Jawahar Tunnel, which connects Kashmir with the rest of the country.

`A huge tragedy'

With the help of the Army, police have launched rescue operations. Mr. Baseer Khan said that 34 persons had been rescued and 38 treated by the medical teams. "With the help of the Army, we have mounted rescue and relief operations. But if the reports coming from the area are true, it is a huge tragedy."

Mr. Bukhari said that entire families had died. The nearest police station was helping organise relief operations.

Officials said the toll was likely to go up as they had no contact with dozens of small habitations in the jungle belt. In Kapran area of Dooru in the same district, 16 persons were killed.

Reports suggest that two Gujjar-dominated hamlets, Halshanadar and Brangnar, were hit by avalanches during the night. Located almost 15 km from Kapran, the main town, it took many hours for police and other security agencies to reach the spot. "Our team from Dooru has managed to reach the spot. It is being led by the SHO, Dooru Ishfaq Alam. So far, it has recovered 16 bodies with the help of the 49 Rashtriya Rifles and the operation is still on," a senior police officer said.

Administration

draws flak

Officials here said the magnitude of the disaster would be known only when the road links with many villages were restored. Hundreds of villages located on the hills are inaccessible now.

The coalition Government, led by the People's Democratic Party, has come under sharp criticism for the way it has handled the situation.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page