4 killed, 8 injured in Kishtwar landslide

Jammu, Oct 30: Four people died while eight others were injured after a landslide hit the Rattle Power project in Kishtwar district on Saturday, officials said.
“Total 12 people were trapped at an under-construction site near the Rattle Power Project. Four of them died while eight others have been rescued. The injured are undergoing treatment at Sub-Disrict Hospital Thathri and Government Medical College Doda,” Additional District Development Commissioner Sham Lal told Rising Kashmir.
Police have identified the deceased as Mohammad Yaqoob son of Fazal Din of Mahi Nagni, Thathri; JCB driver Manoj Kumar son of Hari Lal of Gujjar Kothan, Drabshalla; Sachin Thakur son of Angrez Singh of Salana and Moin Ahmed son of Mohammad Hafiq Mattoo of Drabshalla.
An official said that a landslide hit an under-construction site near Rattle Power project on Saturday, trapping a JCB driver, Manoj Kumar, under the debris.
To rescue the driver, he said, another team was rushed to the spot. “But this team was hit by another landslide, trapping all of them under the debris,” he said.
Later, he said, a rescue operation was launched but four lives could not be saved.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the unfortunate incident and assured to provide all possible assistance to the families of the deceased and those injured in the incident.
“Deeply anguished by mishap at Drabshalla- Ratle hydroelectric project. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for early recovery of injured. Army, SDRF & police are carrying out rescue operations. District Admin directed to provide all necessary assistance,” he wrote on Twitter on October 29.
Meanwhile, Democratic Azad Party (DAP) leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has also expressed pain over the loss of lives in the accident and demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances that led to such an accident.