Srinagar/Jammu, 19 July(KNS): J&K National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Party’s Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed grief and sorrow on the loss of number of lives as two houses caved in after heavy downpour in Kathua District’s Bani area.

In a statement, Dr Farooq and Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief over the tragic trail of deaths as two houses caved in Bani area killing five members of two families and injuring several others.

The duo demanded immediate relief for the affected families besides medical facilities to the injured. “We pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed souls. The loss to the bereaved families is colossal”, they said while asking the near and dear ones to remain strong at this hour of grief to bear with the irreparable loss.

Meanwhile, Rattan Lal Gupta Provincial President NC, Jammu, also condoled the deaths of five members of two families which got stuck after their houses perished due to heavy rains in Kathua’s Bani area. 

Demanding adequate relief and medical aid for those who received injuries in the tragedy, he said that the government should act in a swift manner to save those who got injuries and evacuate them to a safe place as more rains are expected in coming days. 

Besides, other senior NC leaders also expressed sympathies with the bereaved families as the loss incurred was gigantic. They said that the government should have issued timely warnings about the heavy rains so that people could have gone to safer areas. 

The NC has also expressed concern about the damage inflicted to civic infrastructure in the entire region, especially the damages to the bridge near Dyala Chak leading to NH44 blockage.(KNS)