Jammu and Kashmir house collapse: 15 bodies recovered

Deputy Commissioner of Budgam Altaf told IBNS: "So far 15 bodies have recovered from the debris."

He further said that rescue operation is still going on in the area.

According to reports, one body is still lying under the debris.

The rescuers have so far not been able to retrieve a 10-year-old boy, who is feared to have died, in the incident at Laden village in the district.

A senior police official said: "We handed over the dead bodies to the relatives and instructed them for last rite as soon as possible."

Three residential houses collapsed early Monday morning when a landslide hit the village due to incessant rains in the state for the past few days.

Some state Ministers are on their way to the site to asses the situation, reports said.

Meanwhile, at least 728 people of 151 families have been evacuated to safer places.

In Shopian, around 550 persons have been evacuated by the police, a spokesperson said.

“158 persons belonging to 40 families were rescued from Pehlipora. 170 people belonging to 40 families were
rescued from KichPathri Payen and Bala falling under police station Herpora,” he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has expressed grief over the death of several people in the house collapse incident at Laden village in Budgam district.

In his message, the Chief Minister, while condoling the unfortunate deaths, sanctioned ex gratia relief in favour of the next of kin of those who died in the collapse.

The Chief Minister expressed sympathies with the bereaved families in their hour of distress and prayed for peace to the departed souls, the official  spokesman said

The Centre has assured the state government to make available all possible help.

"The State Govt. has an amount of Rs.209.70 crores available under SDRF (as on 13.02.2015). Out of this amount state govts can disburse input subsidy to farmers in respect of crops which have suffered more than 50% losses. The officials of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation are in constant touch with state Govt. officials. As soon as flood waters recede, the central govt. officials will assess the losses," read an official statement issued by the Centre.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)