Untimely snowfall in jammu and kashmir leaves 17 dead

Jammu: The untimely snowfall in J&K claimed 17 lives and left nearly 2,000 houses damaged in Kashmir division, a highlevel review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was informed on Thursday.

The meeting, convened to brief the Chief Minister about the situation following the recent heavy snowfall in the state, was also told that 57 cattle perished in the calamity, a spokesman said. Mr Abdullah directed officials to arrange helicopter sorties to evacuate people from snow bound areas.