Two houses, four shops damaged as landslide hits Kulgam village

Kulgam: Two residential houses and some shops were damaged on Thursday after a landslide occurred in the Noorabad area of Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a landslide took place at Shalmachi Yarikhah in Noorabad in which almost four shops belonging to Fayaz Ahmad Hajam and Abdul Majeed Hajam got damaged. Besides, two residential houses also suffered partial damage in the incident, he said, adding that part of the debris has also blocked the road passing through the area.
Talking to KNO, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Noorabad, Bashir-ul-Hassan said that the people affected in the landslide have been shifted to safer places.
“Relief has been also provided to the affected families, besides that food kits, blankets and kitchen sets have also been given to them”, he said. The men and machinery have also been pressed into service to restore the road for vehicular traffic, he added.  Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kulgam, Vikar Ahmed Giri, Tehsildar Damhal Hanjipora, Rouf Ahmad Lone along with other officials visited the spot.
Meanwhile, locals blamed Jal Shakti department for carelessness which led to mudslide. They said leaking of a drinking water pipeline passing close to the houses triggered the landslide in the area. “The leakage in the pipeline must be stopped to avoid more such incidents”, they added—(KNO)