Jammu/Srinagar, September 5
Even as 85 columns of Army, fleet of MI-17 choppers, AN-32 aircraft of IAF and NDRF teams moved out for rescue operations across Jammu and Kashmir, flashfloods — biggest since 1959 — claimed 39 more lives today in incidents of fresh house collapse and landslides.

Nineteen deaths occurred in Rajouri and one in Doda, 12 in Poonch, four in Mahore of Reasi district in Jammu region and three in Budgam district of Kashmir.

So far, 46 people have lost their lives (excluding nearly 70 on board a bus that was washed away in Rajouri yesterday) across Jammu and Kashmir. Twentythree bodies of baratis on board the ill-fated bus have been recovered. State authorities were yet to assess magnitude of colossal loss to property and infrastructure.

After incessant rains triggered fresh landslides, at least 39 persons including women and children were killed in separate incidents in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Reasi and Budgam districts

Those killed in Rajouri and Doda district during the day have been identified. They are Mohammed Nazarat (house owner) and his family members — Gulzar Akhtar, Zafar Ahmed and Intkhaz Ahmed.

Seven of the relatives of Nazarat were also killed. Three of a family were buried under debris at Baghyari Dhok in Kotranka area after their mud house caved in due to rains.

In two other incidents at Darhal and Sunderbani, two persons, including a woman, were killed in house collapse and landslides. Water and power supply crisis has hit the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. All major rivers, including Chenab and Tawi in Jammu and Jhelum in Srinagar, were flowing above the danger mark.

In Rajouri district alone a loss of over Rs 70 crores to the infrastructure has been reported. Thousands of vehicles remain stranded following closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway and the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar roads following fresh landslides.

Defence spokesperson Col SD Goswami said 85 columns of Army had moved out in Kashmir and Jammu

regions, respectively, to rescue those in distress. More troops have been kept ready to reach out to the affected people, he said.

In Doda district, rains have claimed the life of a minor girl and damaged 40 houses.

Poonch district, which has also been devastated by the continuous rains, remains cut off from the outside world as the Jammu-Poonch highway has been washed away at three places. Power supply to the border district also remains suspended after 33 KV tower collapsed in Bafliaz yesterday.

In Kathua district 55 persons were rescued from flooded Ujh river at Rajbagh.