Heavy rain in Kathua, three dead, 2 missing

Our Correspondent

Jammu, July 31

Three persons, including two minors, died, while two are still missing due to flash floods triggered by heavy rains in Kathua district of Jammu region today.

Two siblings died when their mud house collapsed in Payaal village of Billawar area of Kathua. The mud house got damaged due to incessant rains in the region. Both were present in the house when the incident took place and their bodies were recovered after digging the debris.

The deceased were identified as Isaq Ali (5) and his sister Razana (2). Their father Mashoor Ali along with the police and locals dug the area relentlessly till the bodies were recovered. Family members were inconsolable after the bodies were found.

In another incident in the district, a tractor carrying three persons was washed away at Tarnah Nallah in Kathua, when there was a flash flood in the stream due to rains. While the body of one person was recovered, two others were missing till this report was filed. The deceased has been identified as Ravi Kumar (37), alias Bablu. His body was recovered in Gurah Sarkari village. The missing have been identified as Dev Raj and Kamal Singh. All three are residents of Sallan village in Hiranagar.

Kathua ASP Suresh Kumar Chib, who reached the spot, informed that a search operation has been launched to trace the two more missing persons. He said different agencies, including the police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), were involved in the rescue operation.

Chib said due to sudden flash flood in the water stream, the tractor trailer the trio was travelling in got trapped and was washed away. The tractor was also found but two persons were missing, he said.

LG offers condolences

The loss of innocent lives due to house collapse in Billawar is extremely unfortunate and tragic. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief. — Manoj Sinha, LG

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