86 people rescued from flash floods, landslides in J-K

Army and police today rescued 86 people from flash floods and landslides in Kathua and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that 26 members of a marriage party trapped in the flash floods were rescued in the district.
"Soon after receiving the report of 26 persons of marriage party of 3 families trapped at Dadwara in Mohra-Rehinbrohra in the middle of swelled river, a rescue team led by Tehsildar, Billawar, Dr Manmeet Kumar and local police rushed to the spot," Choudhary said.
"After a 3-hour-long rescue operation, all the trapped persons were evacuated safely," he said.

The DC said that due to heavy rainfall in higher reaches of Bani and Billawar, flood alert was issued.
"Sewa river crossed danger mark and Naaj and Bhini rivers were also reported to be flowing above danger level. Water level in Ranjit Sagar Dam was reported to be 517 feet against danger mark of 524 feet," he said.

Choudhary said "owing to continuous rainfall and rising level of rivers, the district administration has issued alert".
He further said that at least seven houses were reported to have been damaged in Ramkote, Billawar and Bani Tehsils.
In Kishtwar district, Army rescued 60 people trapped in landslide-hit hilly areas.

The locals as well as civil administration in landslide-hit areas of village Diwal Kund in Dessa area of Doda district and Ahna village along Dul Dhar in Kishtwar district, where houses of locals got damaged, requested for help from Army's Delta Force, a defence spokesperson said.
"Timely action by Delta Force ensured that 60 locals at village Ahna were brought to safety, while rescue operations were in progress in Dessa Bowl," he said.
Locals were given immediate first aid after they were taken to safety, he said.
In Rajouri district, Minister for CAPD and Tribal Affairs Ch Zulfkar Ali directed the district administration to be on high alert besides asking them to set up control rooms to monitor the situation round-the-clock.

He was told by officials at a meeting that 71 mud houses, 2 houses, 12 cow sheds and 23 kanal agriculture land were fully damaged due to incessant rains while 53 transformers have been reinstalled out of the 103 damaged transformers.