KL Report
SRINAGAR
As the authorities are trying to manage the mess created by the snowfall, the death toll across the state has touched 12, so far.
Three persons were killed and nine others were injured in Balsern Dragun hamlet when an avalanche hit a cluster of houses in this hilly Damhal Hanjipora belt. The slain have been identified as Rashid, Talib and Altaf Goursi.
Injured were shifted to hospital and some of the residents in the neighbouring sloppy belts have been evacuated.
Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Jahangir Mir visited the village and supervised rescue and relief operations in assistance with police and other line departments. The area witnessed a 9 ft snowfall. An official spokesman said the timely intervention of the administration helped rescue 11 trapped persons including three children. On the spot, affected families were given a cash relief of Rs 10000/- each besides free ration, sugar and Atta, besides 40 blankets and 9 kitchen sets.
Mrs Rehti wife of Abdul Rashid Lone was reported dead when a tin-shed collapsed over her at Manigam (Qazigund).
Fazi Begum mother of Bashir Ahmad died when their house collapsed at Kansu, Shopian. The other family members survived alive.
During last night, two army men of 82 field regiment Batra Camp, Nayak Vijay Prasad and Darminder Singh came under an avalanche and died. The camp is located near Drass (Kargil). Bodies of slain soldiers were recovered.
Another report not confirmed by the police immediately said three Nepali labourers were taken away by an avalanche in Kaksar, in the periphery of Kargil.
At least three persons are reported to have died in lightening. They were identified as Arif Ahmad of Kokernag, Mohammad Ayub in Suwari (Kotranka), and Farooq Ahmad in Mahore (Udhampur).
Reports from Rajouri said dead body of Kewal Krishan was fished out from a local river. It is believed that he was taken by strong currents f water.
In Srinagar police said Gulzar Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Aziz resident of Alamdar Colony Char-i-Sharief got injured near his house in Budgam area. In Daderhama Ghulam Rasool Ganai was seriously injured when he fell down from his house-top while clearing snow. In Srinagar’s Suthra Shahi a woman was also injured in similar circumstances.
