Hailstorm hits J-K's Rajouri, rescue operation launched

Heavy rains and hailstorm hit Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district today trapping 10 families of a nomadic tribe on hills in the Thanamandi area and killing over 110 animals, mostly sheep and goats, a senior official said.

The administration has launched a major operation to rescue the families trapped in the higher reaches of the area, District Development Commissioner (DDC), Rajouri, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, said.

Though there is no immediate report of any human death, but over 110 small animals, mostly sheep and goats, were killed in the hailstorm and rain, he said.

Ten Bakerwal families of Androoth village got trapped when they were on the move to the higher reaches. They got trapped in the hail storm and lost their livestock, Choudhary, who is supervising the rescue operation, said.

The officer said that an immediate amount of Rs 3 lakh was sanctioned for assistance to the affected families.

"A massive rescue operation is going on," he said, adding that hundreds of vehicles were stranded on a road in the area due to accumulation of debris.

The road clearance operation is in progress. Some parts of the road have been cleared, the DDC said, adding that at many places, hail accumulated up to three feet.

Quoting a preliminary report, he said loss of more livestock, poultry farms and private property has been reported, but the assessment could not be completed due to darkness.

Power infrastructure was damaged in Rajdhani, Thanamandi and Manyal area, the officer said.