Landslide buries over two dozen shops

A massive landslide early on Wednesday buried nearly three dozen shops in a rural market in Doda district, police said.

There was no immediate report of any casualty in theincident, which took place at Bathri market in Bhalessa, 65 km from thedistrict headquarters, around 4.15 am, Bhaderwah superintendent of police, RajSingh Gouria, told Greater Kashmir.

   

Gouria, who is supervising the search and rescue operation,quoted preliminary information and said a total of 14 structures, consisting ofnearly three dozen shops, got buried under the landslide.

The panic-stricken residents said they were woken up bydeafening sound.

“We were sleeping when the ground shook. It was like anearthquake and there was loud banging sound,” said Rubina Begum, a localresident, adding that she, her husband and three children rushed out in panic

Pertinently, Chenab Valley is one of the most disaster-proneareas of the state. It is lashed by hundreds of massive landslides each yearand is located in the seismic zone-5, which is vulnerable to earthquakes andfrequent floods. Poverty has forced many to live on or near steep and sinkinghills, steep mountains and storm-vulnerable habitats, often leading todisasters.

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