Toll in Siar Baba waterfall tragedy climbs to 8 after woman succumbs to injuries

On Sunday, seven people were killed when the huge boulder, loosened by rain, had rolled down the 100-feet high waterfall at Siar Baba village.

A 50-year-old woman who was injured after a huge boulder fell on tourists at the Siar Baba waterfall in Reasi on Sunday, succumbed to her injuries Tuesday morning, taking the toll in the tragedy to eight.

The famous Siar Baba is a religious place devoted to a local deity. (HT file photo)

Babli Devi of Gangyal in Jammu died at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspecialty hospital at Kakryal.

“The woman had suffered critical injuries and she succumbed to her injuries in the hospital on Tuesday morning,” said Reasi’s senior superintendent of police Tahir Sajjad Bhat.

On Sunday, her son and son-in-law were killed along with five others when the huge boulder, loosened by rain, had rolled down the 100-feet high waterfall at Siar Baba village. Thirty three others were injured in the incident.

A large number of people, mostly from Jammu district, had gathered at the picnic spot and some of them were taking a bath under the waterfall when the tragedy unfolded.

Immediately after the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra had directed Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Dheeraj Gupta, to make arrangements for the treatment of the injured.

The government had also announced a compensation of ₹four lakh for the next of kin of the dead and the ₹30 thousand for each of the injured on Sunday.