Jammu: Two minor cousins were among three people killed, while four others were rescued following flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall across Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, and Kathua districts on Thursday, officials said.
A landslide, caused by the rains, blocked the new track leading to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district, according to PTI. Authorities said the track had already been closed earlier this week as a precaution.
In Rajouri’s Kalalote subdivision, Shafqat Ali (14) and his cousin Safeena Kouser (11), both from Sialsui Mohu village, were swept away while grazing cattle near a rivulet. Another child, 10-year-old Saima, was rescued by local residents and shifted to hospital.
Meanwhile in Doda district, the body of Basharat Hussain (32) of Dunadi village was retrieved from the Lopa rivulet by SDRF personnel. He had reportedly drowned while bathing on June 23.
In Kathua district’s Nagri block, SDRF rescued two men — Baldev Raj (35) and Sushil Kumar (25) — who got stranded in the swollen Ujh river near Jarmal village after going fishing.
Another person was also rescued from a stream in Poonch by the SDRF.
Flash floods were also reported from Qazi Mohra in Poonch and higher reaches of Doda, Udhampur, and Ramban, though no further casualties were reported.
A fresh landslide on Thursday hit the new route to the Vaishno Devi cave shrine near Satya Viewpoint along the Himkoti path. However, the pilgrimage continues on the traditional route. Battery car and helicopter services remain suspended due to safety concerns. Another landslide disrupted movement near the Bhairav temple track.
Authorities have deployed teams and equipment to clear debris from affected tracks. On June 24, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had directed officials to identify vulnerable points along the yatra route and implement safety measures to minimize risks from landslides and shooting stones.
Separately, traffic on the Srinagar-Leh highway was affected after a cloudburst triggered landslides in Pandrass area of Drass, Kargil, on Wednesday.
The Meteorological Department has predicted light to moderate rainfall with possible heavy showers in parts of Jammu division until June 27. Scattered rain and thunderstorms are also expected between June 28 and July 2.
