J-K: Three killed, seven injured in landslide on Batote- Kishtwar highway

Kishtwar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Apr. 3 (ANI): At least three persons including an infant girl were killed in a land slide near Barabshalla on Batote-Kishtwar national highway in Jammu and Kashmir today. The victims along with a group of other villagers were crossing a sinking portion of road when the land slid erupted. Seven other people were injured in the incident. All of them were shifted to local hospital for treatment. Their condition is stated to be out of danger. According to Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar the incident took place near Kuligad village about 25 kilometers away from Kishtwar town at around 11 a.m. when a group of villagers crossing the damaged portion of road on foot came under heavy land slide and shooting stones. Details revealed that two persons died on spot while an infant succumbed to his injuries in local hospital. One of the killed was identified as Farooq Ahamd Chowdahry of village Drabshallah. While talking to the police, one of the injured persons said that they were crossing the damaged portion of the road when suddenly land slide erupted and shooting stones started tumbling down. Most of the people hid themselves behind a bolder and were unhurt however some of the victims did not find any safe place to hide and came under the land slide and stones. Immediately after the news of fresh land slide killing of passersby reached to Kishtwar police and officers of local administration rushed to spot and started rescue operation. All the injured persons were rescued and shifted to local hospital. The doctors attending them declared all the injured persons out of danger. It is pertinent to mention here that the portion of the road at the incident site sunk into river Chenab two weeks back. Traffic on Batote Kishtwar National highway remained suspended for about eight days. There are dozens of places on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway which are sinking and not step is taken to protect the road and lives of the local people. The local residents alleged that due to these landslides hit portions the only road linking Chenab region with rest of the state has become a death trap for the people. So far, several such incidents have taken place where local residents lost their lives. The people alleged that department manning the road is drawing crores of rupees against repair of these portions but on ground nothing is done and money is drawn without any work on ground. (ANI)