Couple electrocuted, youth swept away in Jammu region

Tribune News Service

Jammu/Rajouri/Katra, Aug 13

Overnight rains wreaked havoc across the Jammu region on Monday with traffic on major road links, including Jammu-Srinagar highway, remaining disrupted due to landslides.

A couple was electrocuted to death after they came in contact with a power transmission line in Chatibhatti village of Poonch’s Surankote area, while a 29-year-old man was washed away while crossing a flooded rivulet in Poonch district. The deceased couple was identified as Mureed Hussain, 58, and his wife Najma, 55.

The SHO, Surankote police station, Mohammad Anzar Mir, said the couple was struggling to prevent flood water from entering their house in Chatibhatti village when they got electrocuted on coming in contact with a live wire brought down by the fall of a tree. “On getting information, we rushed to the spot and took the duo to a nearby hospital where they were declared brought dead,” said the SHO.

In another incident, Javed Iqbal, a resident of Passain in Mandi tehsil of Poonch, was washed away while crossing the flooded Dobawash rivulet on Monday. His body was later recovered some distance away.

All primary schools in Kotranka and Khawas education zones in Rajouri district were closed on Monday on the directions of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kotranka, and all examinations scheduled for the day were postponed.

Meanwhile, traffic on all major roads was badly affected due to multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains. The Jammu-Srinagar highway was blocked at four places, Keri and Tharad in Udhampur, Seri and Makarkot in Ramban due to landslides.

At Keri, locals held a protest against the highway widening agency, alleging that their houses had suffered damage due to faulty works executed by them. Officials of the district administration pacified the protesters, promising them that they would take up the matter with the higher-ups. One-way traffic was allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar by the afternoon. The Katra-Udhampur highway was also blocked for three hours due to landslides. The pilgrimage to Goddess Vaishno Devi shrine was partially suspended on Monday due to the heavy rains.

Vaishno Devi yatra hit  

The Katra-Udhampur highway was blocked for three hours due to landslides. The pilgrimage to Goddess Vaishno Devi shrine was partially suspended on Monday following heavy rains. The Reasi SSP, Nisha Nathyal, said the yatra through Himkoti (battery marg) was suspended as a precautionary measure. The battery car and helicopter services were also suspended due to the bad weather

Schools shut

All primary schools in Kotranka and Khawas education zones in Rajouri district were closed on Monday on the directions of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kotranka, and all examinations scheduled for the day were postponed