In Jammu and Kashmir, heavy rain and flash flood disrupted normal life in Kathua, Reasi and other hilly districts of Jammu division during the last 24 hours, claiming six lives including four children and two pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. All the rivers and nullahs in Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua districts are flowing near danger level mark. As per AIR correspondent's report, four children of a family were killed when their house collapsed following heavy rainfall in Kathua district of Jammu this morning.

The house collapsed due to heavy rains in Makwal hamlet of Billawar hilly belt early this morning, killing four boys and injuring six other members of the family. The injured were rescued by local people and police. In another incident, two Vaishno Devi pilgrims were washed away in flash floods near Ban Ganga in Katra, base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine in Reasi district.

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was also affected today morning for almost five hours due to washing away of 100 meter stretch of highway near Udhampur. However, the traffic was later diverted to by-pass road to ensure smooth vehicular movement. Due to heavy rains almost all the nallahas and river are swelling in the district and local administrations have activated disaster management system to meet any eventuality.

In Himachal Pradesh, heavy incessant rain for the last three days has thrown life out of gear. Traffic has been disrupted on many roads including Chandigarh -Manali due to land slides caused by heavy rain. Hundreds of vehicle are stranded near Manali since morning.

The road leading to Samdoh from Shimla is closed at Kaza due to heavy land slide. Many foreigners are among the stranded people who are eagerly waiting for their rescue but the scarcity of petrol and diesel is hampering the relief activities in the region.

The state is receiving continuous rain since Friday .