Three dead in J&K landslide, Jammu-Srinagar NH closed

JAMMU: Three people were buried alive under a landslide in the upper reaches of Reasi district while traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended after a massive landslide in Ramban district. Incessant rains triggered multiple landslides in these two districts of Jammu division in the past 24 hours.
Reasi SSP Rashmi Wazir said late Monday night, a temporary hutment was buried under a landslide when a natural cave collapsed in Akhourh Shadol area of the district. “Three people were buried alive under the debris. A police team and locals launched a massive rescue operation in the morning and retrieved all the bodies,” the SSP said. The deceased were identified as Khalil Ahmed (22), his wife Ruksana Begum (19) and Mohammad Aslam (25). The rescue team also retrieved buffaloes and other animals that also got buried under the landslide.
SSP Traffic (National Highway) J S Johar said around 250 vehicles were stopped at various places due to the landslide on the national highway at Dalwas in Ramban district. “Restoration work would take time due to slush on the highway, besides damage to the road,” he said.
Incessant rains had triggered multiple landslides on the Ramban-Banihal stretch of the national highway on August 20. SSP Johar also urged people not to travel without confirming the status of the highway from Ramban, Jammu, Srinagar and Udhampur.