Srinagar, Sep 4: Six Kashmiri labourers from Kangan in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district were killed on Thursday morning when a mudslide struck their rented accommodation in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. The men had travelled to the hill state to earn their livelihood and were asleep when the sudden slide buried the structure.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Rashid Sheikh, 45, son of Jamal Sheikh, originally from Sardaab Tulail (Bandipora), at present residing in Kijpara, Kangan (Ganderbal), Sajad Ahmad Wani, 35, son of Abdul Ahad, originally from Sardaab Tulail (Bandipora), at present Ari Goripora, Kangan (Ganderbal), Mehraj-ud-Din Lone, 28, son of Mohammad Sabir, originally from Sardaab Tulail (Bandipora), at present Ari Goripora, Kangan (Ganderbal), Gulzar Ahmad Lone, 48, son of Ghulam Mohammad, originally from Sardaab Tulail (Bandipora), at present Babanagri, Kangan (Ganderbal), Mohammad Hussain Lone, 42, son of Mohammad Sultan, originally from Sardaab Tulail (Bandipora), at present Gounchi Mohalla Akhal, Kangan (Ganderbal), and Tariq Ahmad Sheikh, 29, son of Bashir Ahmad, originally from Sardaab Tulail (Bandipora), at present Sardaab Tulail, Bandipora.
Officials in Kullu said incessant rains had triggered the mudslide which swept through the private accommodation, leaving no time for escape. Rescue teams later retrieved the bodies after hours of operations.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In his condolence message, he said the tragic loss of lives has cast a shadow of grief across the Valley. The Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that it is in touch with the local administration in Kullu and all possible assistance is being extended to the affected families.
“This is a heartbreaking incident. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. The government will ensure every possible help,” Omar Abdullah said.
The death of these six labourers has once again brought into sharp focus the harsh realities faced by thousands of Kashmiris working outside the Valley. For decades, men from remote villages of Kashmir Valley have travelled to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in search of work, but their lives remain fraught with uncertainty, poor wages and lack of protection.
Most of these men worked in construction and seasonal labour in Himachal Pradesh, staying in basic rented rooms. With no contracts, social security or insurance cover, they were exposed to both economic and environmental risks. Relatives say each of them was the sole breadwinner of his family.
“They went to Himachal because there was little work here. Now their families are devastated. Children have lost fathers, wives have lost husbands, and parents have lost sons,” said a relative in Kangan. [KNT]
