In a devastating incident, four members of a nomadic family lost their lives when a pine tree collapsed on their tent during a storm in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The unfortunate incident occurred in the Bhalna forest area of the Keshwan belt, where strong winds and heavy rainfall uprooted a large tree. The family, accompanied by their sheep and goats, was en route to Dachan and had taken shelter in the Bhalna forest due to the inclement weather.
Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, Devansh Yadav, confirmed that the incident resulted in the immediate death of four individuals, including three women. The victims, belonging to the Bakarwal community, had set up their tents to rest for the night amidst the heavy rain when the tragic accident took place.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Khalil Poswal, stated that a pine tree fell directly on the tent occupied by the nomadic family, leading to the loss of lives. Upon receiving information about the incident, a police team promptly arrived at the scene to initiate rescue operations and transfer the deceased to a hospital for necessary legal procedures. The deceased individuals hailed from Gathi-Barwal in the Kathua district.
The deputy commissioner disclosed that the Red Cross Society provided immediate relief of Rs 50,000 to support the affected family during this difficult time.
In a separate unfortunate incident caused by the heavy storm, two individuals, including a 4-year-old child, lost their lives, while three others sustained injuries, in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The casualties occurred when a tree fell on them. In one incident, three people were safely rescued, but the 4-year-old child, unfortunately, passed away while being transported to the hospital during late-night rescue operations.
In another incident, two individuals were struck by a falling tree in the Laljiwala area, resulting in the death of a devotee from Sonipat.
These tragic incidents highlight the dangers posed by severe weather conditions and serve as a reminder of the need for safety measures during storms. Authorities and local communities must continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of individuals to prevent such unfortunate events in the future.
