Girl washed away in flash floods in J-K

Bhaderwah : A girl, suffering from polio, was feared drowned while her three friends were rescued after they were washed away in flash floods in Neeru river in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district.

The Four girl students, who had gone to meet their friend at Butla village last night were returning this morning, Executive Magistrate Bhadarwah Masood Ahmed said.

As soon as they started walking on a wooden log over the flooded river, one of the girls, lost balance resulting all four of them fell into the strong currents,” he said.

Locals and police started rescue operations immediately after the incident.

“We immediately started a rescue operation led by SHO Jatinder Singh Sambyal and managed to rescued three girls from the flash floods and shifted them to the Sub-Distt hospital Bhadarwah,” Ahmed said.

However, Sheetal Bharti, suffering from Polio disease and a resident of Trown in Doda, was washed away by the strong currents and the search for her is still going on, he said.

Five teams are conducting a search operation between Butla and Fish pond Gatha, the executive magistrate added.

The girls, who were rescued and are undergoing treatment at SDH Bhadarwah, have been identified as Shakti, Bharti and Sharika.

Meanwhile, locals at Sartingal held a protest against the administration alleging that they have been demanding building of a bridge over the river near Butla since long.

—PTI