Machine operator swept away by flash floods in J-K's Banihal

Banihal, Aug 02: A machine operator died Monday evening after rains and a cloud burst resulted in flash floods in the Bankoot area of Banihal, officials said.

Officials said a cloud burst hit the upper reaches of Bankoot village near Banihal, causing flash floods in the Gagarwah Bankoot streams.

A machine operator working on the Bankoot-Gujjarnar link road was washed away in the flash floods, they said.

The flash floods also damaged the under-construction Bankoot-Gujjarnar road and swept away an L&T machine, a JCB machine, and other machinery.

Police said after receiving information about a person being swept away in the floodwaters in Bankoot Nallah, local teams from Bankoot, police, and Banihal volunteer teams rushed to the spot and initiated a rescue operation.

They said following intense efforts, the body of the deceased was retrieved from the nullah.

The deceased was identified as 28-year-old machine helper Zahir Ahmed son of Abdul Qayoom, a resident of Manjoos in Tehsil Khari.

He died on the spot, and doctors confirmed his death upon arrival at the hospital, they said.

A case has been registered at PS Banihal and further investigations started.