Heavy rains in JK, three drown

Jammu, Mar 20 (UNI) At least three persons, including a minor girl and a woman, today died in a flash flood in Doda and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ujla Devi, a class 5th class student of High School Sertingle Bhaderwah, was on her way to appear for an exam when she was swept away in a flash flood in a nullah at Shri Buttla, 8 kms from Bhaderwah.

Ms Mansa Devi, 50, who was assisting the children to cross the nullah, also died in an attempt to save Ujla, official sources said.

The security forces, along with locals, recovered body of Manasa Devi after five hours, and the search operation was still on.

In another incident Ramlal, 56, resident of Reasi in Udhampur was washed away in rever Chenab at Harogh.

The state has been experiencing heavy rain since last evening, triggering landslides and floods in the state which disrupted traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Met Department said Banihal area recorded the highest rainfall at 55.4 mm followed by Katra (32.7 mm), Jammu (25.4 mm), Batote (32.8 mm) and Bhaderwah (28.4).

UNI