Sunday, February 20 2005 18:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar/Jammu: At least 21 people were killed in house collapse triggered by avalanches and landslides in Jammu and Kashmir as the heaviest snowfall in a decade and a half paralysed normal life in the Kashmir valley which remained cut off from rest of the country for the third day today (Feb 20, 2005).

With power supply, telecom and road links severely hit, the State civil administration declared a red alert and sought the Army's help in providing food, fuel and shelter to the needy and clear the vital road communication within and to the valley.

A massive landslide set off by heavy rains and snow burried 12 houses killing 18 people at Lowran area of Poonch district, police said.

A Srinagar report said three persons were killed and scores injured as 50 houses collapsed and avalanches, triggered by the heaviest snowfall in 15 years, hit the Kashmir valley taking the death toll to 12 in the past three days.

The valley remained cut off from the rest of the country due to closure of Jammu-Srinagar national highway and power failure for the third straight day, an official spokesman said.

He said nearly 50 houses collapsed in Anantnag and Baramulla districts of the valley killing two persons, one each at Botingo in Aanantnag and Gurez in Baramulla.

In Srinagar, a man who was removing snow from his house-top in Soura area this morning died on the spot after he slipped from the roof.