47 feared dead as floods wash away bus in J&K

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, Sep 4, 2014, DHNS:  At least 47 people were feared killed on Thursday in Rajouri district when a bus carrying members of a marriage party was washed away in flash floods caused due to incessant rain in the region during the last three days.

Reports said the bus carrying about 50 “baratis”, including the groom, of Sikh community, was crossing the Laam-Darhal-Moushera Road in Rajouri, 350 km south of Srinagar, when it got washed away in the flash floods around 12:45 pm.

Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Kichloo, said out of 50 passengers in the bus three survived and a search is on to find others.

SSP, Rajouri, Mubasir Latifi told Deccan Herald that a rescue and search operation was underway. “However, the river is completely swollen due to flash floods and fast water currents are creating hurdles in search operation. Some of the passengers on-board might have escaped to safety but at the moment we can’t confirm that,” he said.

Sumit Bhargav, an eyewitness, said the driver lost control over the bus (JK02AK 9075) when it was hit by the waters and plunged into the river near Noushera town in Rajouri.

“A joint team of the Army, police and disaster management personnel were trying to locate the missing passengers. However, incessant rains and poor visibility in the area are making the rescue operation difficult,” he told Deccan Herald over phone.

“As communication lines in the area have been down for the past two days due to incessant rainfall, the exact casualty figures in the region due to flash floods can’t be confirmed. Several villages in the hilly areas of Rajouri might have suffered huge damages due to floods,” he added.

Flood fury continues

The death toll in the incessant rain and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 20 on Thursday, DHNS reports from Srinagar. Addressing a hurriedly called press conference here, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, accompanied by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, said so far 20 deaths have been reported in the state due to heavy rain and floods.

The ministers said 200 houses have been damaged in the floods so far. Heavy rain lashed Jammu and Kashmir for the third consecutive day on Thursday, triggering flood threat across the state. The local Meteorological department has predicted no improvement in weather till Saturday. Met Director Sonam Lotus said moderate to heavy rain will continue to lash Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions till Saturday morning.

Incessant rain and subsequent floods have damaged property worth hundreds of crores of rupees while hundreds of areas are submerged in flood waters and dozens of bridges were washed away by the gushing waters. The steep rise in the water level of the Jhelum river triggered an unprecedented flood situation across Kashmir as the water submerged hundreds of houses and swept away livestock and property.

Panicked by the rapidly increasing water, the residents of several areas rushed to safer places, leaving behind their belongings.  Reports said people in low-lying areas have taken shelter on rooftops after water entered into their homes. Several government buildings, including some hospitals in Srinagar city, have also been submerged, forcing authorities to shift patients to safer places.