10 perish in AJK village roof collapse

KOTLI:

Relentless rains and flash floods left another tale of misery as 10 people including seven children lost their lives after the roof of a mud house located in a village in Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) caved in on Sunday night.

The mishap occurred in Tahi Mandhole village, AJK.

According to officials, incessant downpour during the last few days had rendered the roof of the mud house fragile.

The house dwellers included two brothers and their families. Twelve people from both the families were sleeping in the veranda when the roof of the mud house collapsed and they were buried under the debris.

As a result 10 people including seven children and three women died while the two were rescued.

Bodies and the injured were shifted to Kotli Hospital.

The local administration issued a high alert and directed the villagers to leave the area.

The deceased included a child who had come over to stay as a guest at the house.

Officials faced difficulties in the rescue effort and while shifting the injured and bodies to hospital due to incessant rain.

In a statement, AJK Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas expressed grief and sorrow over the deaths and directed the authorities concerned to facilitate the affected families in treating the injured.

He once again urged the people, particularly those visiting AJK, to exercise extreme caution amid inclement weather.