Seven killed, 34 injured as boulder falls on tourists in Reasi’s Siar Baba waterfall in J-K

At least seven people were killed and 34 others were injured when a huge boulder and debris fell off a hillock in Siar Baba waterfall in Reasi district, about 70 km from Jammu on Sunday afternoon.

“Seven tourists died and 34 others were injured as the boulder and other debris fell on them from a height of over 100 feet,” Reasi’s Deputy Commissioner Prasanna Ramaswamy said.

He added, army and police were immediately pressed into service for the rescue operation.

“Around 3.30 pm on Sunday a huge rock just near the mouth of waterfall in Siar Baba, probably loosened by monsoon rains, fell off the hill on tourists taking bath in the waterfall,” senior superintendent of police, Reasi, Tahir Sajjad Bhat said.

Five tourists died on the spot while, two succumbed to injuries while being shifted to Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, police said.

Three of the deceased were identified as Kamal Kishore Sharma (40) resident of Talab-Tillo, Jammu, Sahin Kumar (29) of Janipur, Jammu and Lucky (27) of Gangyal, Jammu. The identities of four others are yet to be ascertained.

The injured were shifted to district hospital in Reasi for initial treatment before being moved to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital near Katra.

“All the 34 injured have been shifted to SMVD Narayana Superspeciality Hospital for specialised treatment,” Ramaswamy said.

The famous Siar Baba is a religious place devoted to a local deity. Last year during monsoon, there was a massive landslide in an adjacent hill.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah expressed deep grief and shock over the deaths.

“My heart goes out to all those who lost their dear ones in the tragic incident”, Omar said and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.

He also prayed for peace for the departed souls and strength to bereaved families to bear their irreparable loss and wished speedy recovery of the injured.