Jammu and Kashmir floods death toll rises to 60

Jammu: At least 60 people have been killed in floods in the Jammu region during the past three days while uninterrupted rain continued on Friday, threatening to inundate more areas, an official said. [caption id=“attachment_1698705” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Police said 50 people died on Thursday when a bus carrying them was swept away by a flash flood near Noushera town of Rajouri district. Four people, including the driver, miraculously survived as they jumped out when the bus was swept away by flood waters. “The bus was carrying a Sikh marriage party. When it was crossing a causeway in Lam area, the bus overturned and was swept away by the strong current of the flash flood,” a police officer told IANS here. “Four bodies have so far been found while a massive operation has been launched to trace others. The chances of any survivors are almost zero,” he said. In landslides and flash floods, 10 other people were killed during the past three days in Reasi, Doda and Poonch districts. All major rivers in the region, including Chenab, Tawi, Sujan and Poonch, were flowing above the danger mark on Friday. Reports said over 350 houses have been damaged due to heavy rainfall in the region during the past three days. The army is assisting the civil administration in relief and rescue operations in Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Doda districts. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, Jammu-Poonch, Jammu-Rajouri and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar and some other major roads in the region have also been closed to traffic. IANS