9 killed, 15 wounded, 30 houses damaged in snow and rain in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 13 (UNI) Nine people were killed and 20 wounded while about 30 houses and other structures collapsed due to heavy snowfall and rains the Jammu and Kashmir overnight, official sources said today.

They said one Abdul Hamid was killed when a huge branch of chinar trees fell down due to heavy snowfall at Chandgam in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.

The branch fell on Hamid, killing him instantly, they said.

They said one Ghulam Mohammad Thakor was killed when he slipped down from the roof of his house while clearing snow at Kokernag in south Kashmir this morning.

One woman Wazira died when roof of her house collapsed at Gudsmuth, in the central Kashmir district of Badgam. Other family members however escaped unhurt, sources added.

Two persons were killed when they were buried under a landslides while one fell into deep gorge at Penthal on the Kashmir highway.

Two boys were washed away when they were swept away in flash flood at Mendhar in Poonch district of Jammu region this morning.

Another woman was washed away in the flash floods at Dadikhai in Doda district. The woman Sonu Devi alongwith her husband were on way to Dulhasa when the incident occurred, sources said.

About 15 other persons were injured in different parts of the valley after they slipped on snow or snow fell on them from roof tops, sources said adding they were admitted to hospitals. Most of the injured are with broken legs and arms.

They said more than 30 dozen houses, including a school building at Machil in north Kashmir collapsed under the weight of about one to four feet of snow.

A police spokesman told UNI houses collapsed at Ganderbal, Nowhatta, Zainakote and Zaindar Mohalla.

A security force shed collapsed under snow at Sanant Nagar while a jeep was damaged after a huge branch of a tree fell on it at Kangan. Two security force personnel were reportedly injured in these incidents.

Reports of house collapse were also received from Kupwara, Baramulla and Shopian where three to five feet of snowfall was recorded during the past 24 hours.

More than one thousand trees and electric poles also collapsed due to snowfall in the valley.

UNI