At least 14 people, including two Army jawans, were killed in unprecedented snowfall and rains in Jammu and Kashmir, while the surface and rail links with rest of the country remained disconnected for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.Avalanches hit different parts of the state, causing loss of lives and damage to property. An official said an avalanche had hit an army camp in the Kargil sector of the Ladakh region.
“Two Army men, identified as Naik Vijay Prasad and Dharmindra Singh of 82 Field Regiment, were buried in the avalanche. Their bodies have been recovered,” he said.
The official said another avalanche hit a stone quarry at the Kaksar area of Kargil, killing three Nepali labourers.
In south Kashmir’s Qazigund area, a 48-year-old woman died after her tin shed collapsed in heavy snowfall. While an elderly woman died in the Kansu hamlet of Shopian district, three persons of a family died at Balsaran in Kulgam district, when their houses collapsed.
Meanwhile, four persons died of thunderstorm and lightning in the Jammu province.
About 80 people were rescued by police and the civil administration in Waltangoo Naad areas in Kulgam district after being struck in heavy snowfall.
“Six families comprising 24 members were rescued from Meerasi Nallah in south Kashmir to safer places.
Two families were rescued from Muspora, Shopian and shifted to safer places,” an official said.
Officials said over 1,000 houses were partially or fully damaged across the Valley due to heavy snowfall.
The state Disaster Management Authority has issued an medium-danger avalanche warning for hilly areas of Uri, Tangdhar, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and Kargil.
Due to heavy snowfall, the Srinagar-Jammu highway remained closed for the second consecutive day.
Air connectivity was restored after being disrupted on Tuesday. Rail services also remained suspended in the Valley. Educational institutions have been closed till March 15.