An uprooted tree triggered landslide killing two border villagers who had ventured into a north Kashmir forest to hunt for wild mushrooms though a sunny afternoon on Friday ended a week-long wet spell that created flood-like situation in Kashmir Valley. With the latest casualties triggered by heavy rain, the death toll reached 21 including 16 members of two families who were buried alive in their houses in laden village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district earlier this week.
Sources said that two villagers — Abdul Jabbar Var and Muhammad Dilawar Mir died and two others were wounded in limber village of north Kashmir’s Uri belt on Friday when they came under a landslide triggered by an uprooted tree. While Var died on the spot, Mir succumbed to injuries at hospital after villagers rescued the wounded trio. The villagers had gone into the jungle area to fetch wild mushrooms. The incessant rains since last weekend triggered massive landslides and swelled River Jhelum and its tributaries threatening a flood-like situation. The population in flood-prone areas, hit by the worst September 2014 deluge, left their homes in panic. However, the situation eased out after Thursday afternoon when the precipitation lessened. The schools re-opened on Friday after five-day break. Thousands of people attended congregational prayers in the afternoon. The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has remained mostly closed for the past week due to landslides in its treacherous stretch between Banihal and Ramban. Though some vehicles were allowed to proceed towards Srinagar, the seamless traffic is unlikely to ply in next few days.