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Avalanches claim 17 more lives in Kashmir

— Photo: Nissar Ahmad

Residents of the Qazigund watch the rescue operation by the Jammu and Kashmir police at Gujjar Pati area on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Friday.

SRINAGAR: At least 17 people including five children were killed as the avalanches hit many places in Kashmir, which has been reeling under the inclement weather for the past six days. The death toll has now gone up to 22.

Police rescued 32 people in south Kashmir for which Director-General of Police announced a cash reward of Rs. 50,000.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remains blocked for the sixth consecutive day, but the air services resumed as the weather conditions improved.

Reports said one woman and her five children were buried alive at Rang Mandow village near Kapran in Anantnag district. “The house in which the family was living came under heavy snow and all the inmates have most probably died,” Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hemant Kumar Lohia told The Hindu.

He said a rescue party from the nearest police station had been sent to the area but the track was very difficult and we did not know when they would reach there. He said the house owner was away in Jammu.

A report said one boy Riyaz Ahmad had a miraculous escape when the avalanche hit the area. “The situation about this area is not clear yet,” Mr. Lohia said.

In the remote border area of Gurez in Bandipore district three people are reported to have been died due to avalanches. Sitara Begum died on the spot when her house was hit by an avalanche. The house, according to police sources, was completely damaged. In the same area, two unidentified persons were reported dead, but the bodies were yet to be retrieved.

A civilian Mohammad Shafi Chechi was killed when a powerful snow storm hit some houses in the Gulab Bagh area in Qazigund, which witnessed 11-foot snow during the past few days. As the people were taken unawares during the night they started crying for help. “Then the locals assembled and started helping us,” said Ashraf Chechi. He said the help from the locals came in right time and a major tragedy was averted.

But, a police spokesman said a police party from Qazigund rescued 32 people from this inaccessible area, risking their lives.

“The Qazigund police on Friday rescued 32 people and recovered a body from the snow-struck, inaccessible area of Gulab Bagh Qazigund, which recorded 11 feet of snow in last three days . Out of the rescued people, two were having injuries,” the spokesman said.

He said DGP Kuldeep Khoda had announced a cash reward of Rs. 50,000 for the police Party, which rescued 32 trapped people and recovered a body from Gulab Bagh Qazigund.

Six people are believed to have died at Batroo village in Ramban district due to an avalanche, which hit their houses. A policeman on duty died due to cold in Ramban.

According to police sources, all occupants of three houses at Batroo village near Ramsoo were buried alive in the snow. A three-and-half-year-old girl child was found alive in the house when the police team recovered the bodies of six other family members.

DIG Doda (Ramban range) Farooq Khan said two of the houses had already been evacuated but one had seven people still living inside. A police team found the bodies of six of them and rescued a three-and-half-year-old girl Babli.

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