J&K: JKAS officer, son killed in Reasi landslide; six others injured

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A devastating landslide in the Dharmari area of Reasi district on August 1 claimed the lives of Rajinder Singh, a 2011-batch JKAS officer and SDM Ramnagar, and his young son. Six others were injured in the incident.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “Extremely saddened by the landslide incident in Dharmari, Reasi, in which we have lost an officer, Rajinder Singh, JKAS 2011, SDM Ramnagar & his son. The tragedy is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family & I pray that the injured recover quickly,” the LG's office said in a statement.

Dr. Gopal Dutt, Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Reasi, confirmed that six people were admitted to the hospital. “As we received information about the incident, we sent two ambulances to the spot. We have lost a young officer in this incident,” he said. Critically injured patients were later referred to the district hospital for further treatment.

SSP Reasi Paramvir Singh said the incident occurred while the family was returning to their native village, Pattian, from Dharmari. As their vehicle reached the Salukh Ikhter Nallah area, a sudden landslide sent heavy debris crashing onto it. Rajinder Singh’s son died on the spot, while his wife and two cousins were seriously injured.

A rescue operation was launched with the help of residents and police, and all the injured were promptly shifted to the hospital. Police have confirmed the cause to be a landslide and have launched an investigation.

The incident underscores the increasing danger of landslides in the region amid continuous rainfall. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution while travelling through hilly terrain.

Just days earlier, on July 30, two Indian Army personnel lost their lives in a similar incident in Ladakh. A boulder fell on a military convoy vehicle around 11:30 am, killing Lieutenant Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh and Lance Dafadar Daljeet Singh.

(With agency inputs)