BSF officer among 8 dead in flash floods, landslides in Jammu

Jammu: A BSF officer was among eight persons killed in landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain in Jammu region on Wednesday, while at least 23 villages have been flooded in the region and authorities have sounded flood alert. Over 100 people were also rescued from flood-hit regions.

"Six people are reported to have died, including a BSF officer in Jammu region in landslides and flash floods today. Over 100 people have been rescued from floods," Divisional Commissioner, Jammu region, Shant Manu said. Giving details of a collapse of a bunker in Poonch, Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Rakesh Sharma said that due to heavy rains, a landslide was triggered in Mandi Mandir area along LoC in Poonch and debris fell on the bunker in which a BSF Inspector was present along with some troops.

The Inspector could not come out of the bunker and was buried, Sharma said, adding that his body was later recovered while some jawans escaped with some minor injuries. The officer was identified as Inspector Mohammad Rashid of 154 Battalion of BSF.

SSP, Poonch, Shamsher Hussain said that apart from the death of the BSF inspector, two more people are feared dead in flash floods in Mandi belt of Poonch. In Reasi district, five people including three children reportedly died after landslide hit them in far-flung Momankot belt of Reasi district, the Divisional Commissioner said.

A team from Chasana belt has been rushed and will trek a distance of 55 km on foot to reach the spot, reports said. According to the Divisional Commissioner, a large number of houses and other buildings have been damaged in the flash floods, landslides and rains in Jammu region and an exact details will come by Thursday.

Over 120 structures have been hit in the region in the past two days. Authorities have sounded high "flood alert" and warned people in the region against going towards the banks of rivers. Over 23 villages have also been flooded, reports said.

Authorities have deployed over a dozen of Disaster Management and rescue teams in all the districts of Jammu region and water level is being continuously monitored by flood control rooms.