Jammu, July 20: Two persons were killed and six others sustained injuries after shooting stones triggered by heavy rainfall struck multiple vehicles on National Highway-244 between Batote and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. The incident occurred amid continuous rains that have caused landslides and rockfalls at several vulnerable locations along the highway.
According to officials, boulders and stones rolling down the hillside hit passing vehicles, leading to the deaths of two occupants and leaving six others injured. The injured were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment, while rescue teams, police, and district administration rushed to the spot to assist the victims and clear the debris.
Following the incident, authorities suspended vehicular movement on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway (NH-244) as a precautionary measure. Heavy machinery has been deployed to remove mud, rocks, and debris from the road, while restoration work is underway to reopen the highway once conditions become safe.
The Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rainfall across parts of Jammu and Kashmir, raising the risk of additional landslides, flash floods, and shooting stones in hilly areas. Authorities have advised commuters to avoid unnecessary travel on mountain roads and follow official traffic advisories until weather conditions improve.
