Two road construction labourers were killed and five seriously injured today early morning when a landslide hit the tent in which they were sleeping near a Shiva temple at Badora in the Mahore sub-division of the Reasi district, police said.
The tragic incident took place when the seven men, including a JCB machine operator at a construction site related to the Shiva Cave pilgrimage, were sleeping in a tent. Around 2 am, a sudden landslide hit the area, and the tent got buried in it.
The injured labourer was immediately rushed to the hospital at Mahore where they are undergoing treatment.
The killed labourers have been identified as 26-year-old Rashpal Singh, a resident of Tuli Kalavan in Reasi, and 23-year-old Ravi Kumar, a resident of Mantalai in Udhampur.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh wrote on X; “Just now spoke to DC Udhampur, Ms. Saloni Rai after receiving information about a landslide in district Reasi, resulting in two causalities, one of whom belonged to Mantalai area in district Udhampur. Five others have been injured. The administration is promptly undertaking relief and rescue measures. I am in constant touch”, he added.
In another incident, the Indian Army, SDRF, Police and local divers conducted a coordinated rescue operation to save a minor boy trapped amid rising waters of a flooded river in Rajouri. Timely action and seamless coordination ensured safe evacuation, said the White Knight Corps.
An Army helicopter was also used to rescue the minor boy from being washed away.
The strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway was shut for vehicular traffic due to flash floods and mudslides at various places, including the Tunnel (T2) near Magarkote. The Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road was also closed due to flash floods.