Six people were killed in a cloudburst that triggered flash floods in Doda district of Jammu today, police sources said.

According to officials while six people were killed, several houses and shops were damaged in a cloudburst.  Officials said that a woman and her grandson were killed after a cloudburst.

The duo were grazing their animals at Hydal Mill when flash floods hit the area. As the locals listened to the noises, they reached the spot but both were drowned in the nallah. The deceased has been identified as Kunji Devi Wife of Krishan Lal R/O Cherzi Nagseni Kishtwar and one minor Samrat Kumar S/o Ghirdhari Lal.

 A police official said that “we have recovered three dead bodies from the debris of the collapsed houses so far. Two persons have been rescued alive. The rescue operation is still going on.’’

 The flash floods were triggered by a cloudburst and wreaked havoc in Thathri town of Doda this morning, inundating vast areas along the Batote-Kishtwar national highway, washing away half a dozen houses and leaving several persons trapped.  Six persons, including a 12-year-old boy, were rescued from under the debris.

“Flash flood triggered by cloudburst hit Thathri town at 2.20 am resulting in a massive increase in the level of the ‘nullah’ flowing along the Jamai Masjid locality close to the town” a police officer said.

DySP (headquarters) Doda, Iftkhar Ahmed, said the water level and silt suddenly rose in the drain after the cloudburst, washing away several structures along its path leading to the main market. The extent of damage could not be immediately ascertained. 

“We cannot assess the exact loss of life or property immediately as we are in the middle of rescue operations trying to save those still trapped under the debris. As of now, a 12-year-old boy has been rescued,” Ahmed said.  Several others were still under the debris and

causalities could not be ruled out, he said.

“The entire district administration along with the  police and army have started rescue operation on a war footing,” the police official said.

The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway (NH1B) was closed due to huge boulders at Thathri market triggered by the cloudburst while the water supply pipes and power supply remained snapped in the area.

 Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Vice President and MLA Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, asked the government to provide swift assistance for rescue and rehabilitation in the wake of cloudburst at Thathri area of Doda district causing “extensive” loss of property.  Expressing concern over the damage caused,  Saroori said it is a matter of sorrow that due to the flash floods many houses got damaged.

 Saroori further said he is personally monitoring the situation and added that sub-district administrations, disaster management teams and security personnel have already been asked to reach the sites to carry out rescue works and ensure safety of locals.

 Meanwhile, Naresh Gupta, MLC and Congress leader, Randeep Bhandari, condoled the incident and prayed for peace to the departed. They also  demanded immediate compensation  to the next kin of the deceased.

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