A wave of misfortunes hit Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, resulting in four fatalities—including two visitors from outside the state—and leaving ten injured in a devastating house collapse in Bandipora. These incidents underscore the vulnerabilities in the region’s tourism hubs and residential areas during peak winter.
Srinagar’s medical facilities received two tourists in critical condition, both pronounced dead shortly after. Taranjeet Singh, hailing from Uttar Pradesh and lodged near the iconic Dal Lake, arrived at SMHS Hospital unresponsive. Similarly, Maharashtra’s Ramchand Mahindrakar, based in a Hyderpora hotel, was transferred to SKIMS Soura from JVC Bemina, where life was confirmed lost.
Forensic teams are now piecing together the puzzles of these deaths, with autopsies underway to rule out any foul play or health anomalies.
Adding to the toll, CRPF personnel Harinath, a head constable with the 44th Battalion stationed in HMT, Srinagar, collapsed late evening from what appears to be acute cardiac distress. He had voiced unease before succumbing in his quarters, prompting a thorough medical review.
Meanwhile, in Kulgam, Mashook Ahmad Mir, 32, fell victim to a preventable mishap. Parked outside the district hospital with heater running in a sealed car to shield from freezing temperatures during his wife’s treatment, carbon monoxide buildup likely caused his asphyxiation. He was discovered too late for revival.
The most dramatic scene unfolded in Bandipora’s Hajin, where a condolence gathering for a deceased homeowner overloaded a two-storey structure in Chandergir village, leading to its sudden crumble. Ten mourners sustained injuries amid the panic. Rescue operations by locals and authorities freed those buried under rubble.
Medical response was prompt: half the injured at Hajin center, the rest at Safapora facility, all stabilizing. Investigators are scrutinizing building integrity, as police vow to prevent future calamities in overcrowded events.