Srinagar: A CRPF officer and a 74-year-old woman died on Wednesday in separate incidents triggered by heavy snowfall in Kashmir, police said.
Sub Inspector H C Murmur of the 115 battalion the CRPF, who was guard incharge, sustained injuries due to collapse of the guard room at the residence of National Conference leader Mohammad Sayeed Akhoon due to snowfall, a police official said.
He said the injured CRPF personnel was rushed to SKIMS hospital where he succumbed.
In another incident, a woman identified as Rahmi Begum died on the spot after she came under snow in Kupwara district, the official said.
Dozens of structures have collapsed or suffered damage due to the heavy snowfall in Kashmir since Sunday.
As the snowfall continued in many places of the valley especially in south Kashmir, authorities have evacuated many families from avalanche prone areas to safer areas.
Meanwhile, \the heavy snowfall also damaged over 70 structures, mostly residential houses across the Valley.
As per the reports available, two Masjids were also damaged in Srinagar including one in Qalamdanpora Nawa Bazar and the other at Mehboob-ul-Aalam Baba Pora Zoonimar.
Besides, two houseboats belonging to Ghulam Rassol Handoo and Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Sopori were damaged in Dal Lake near Nehru Park.
According to the details available many residential houses, shops, commercial structures and the vehicles were damaged due to the snowfall across Kashmir.
In Srinagar district nearly 30 residential houses, shops and other structures were damaged in Bagh-e-Mehtab; Jawahar Nagar; Kani Mohalla Saida Kadal; Mehjoor Nagar; Boatmen colony Bemina; Hazratbal; Zoonimar; Hawal; Narwara Eidgah; Babapora Zoonimar; Habba Kadal; Ishber Nishat; Maharajpora Batamaloo; Lal Bazar; Mulfaq Hazratbal; Sikh Bagh Lal Bazaar; Bilal Colony Qamarwari; Chattabal; Nowshehra; Anchar Soura; Magreypora Khandah; Bagh-e-Sundar Bala Chattabal and; Gagribal Siada Kadal.
Besides, Imamia Public School at Rainawari, tin shed at Munawarabad were also damaged in Srinagar while several vehicles were also damaged. A work shop namely Usman Auto Work shop at Tengpora Bypass was also damaged where some vehicles have also suffered damage.
Similarly in southern districts, nearly two dozen structures including residential houses were damaged due to heavy snowfall in Shopian and Kakpora area Pulwama and Pahalgam area of Anantnag districts.
In Baramulla, at least seven structures and sheds were partially or fully damaged in Boniyar and Uri Teshils.
In Budgam district, three residential houses were damaged while as roof tops of two shops located at main market Chadoora were also damaged besides two residential houses in Ganderbal and two more residential houses in Kupwara district.
When contacted, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir P K Pole told KNO that a quick relief has been distributed among the affected families by the concerned authorities today while the assessment is going on about the losses.
