Kishtwar/Jammu (PTI): Four members of a tribal nomadic family died in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday morning when a pine tree fell on their tent, officials said.

The incident took place in the Bhalna forest area of Keshwan belt, they said, adding that high-speed winds and heavy rainfall uprooted the big tree.

"A pine tree fell on a tent pitched by the nomadic family in the forest belt. In this tragic incident, four family members lost their lives early today," Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Khalil Poswal told PTI.

The family was going towards Dachan with its sheep and goats, and had halted in Bhalna forest due to heavy rains, they said.

Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Devansh Yadav said four people, including three women, died on the spot.

"A police team immediately rushed to the spot and started a rescue operation," Yadav said, adding that the bodies are being taken to a hospital for legal formalities.

An immediate relief of Rs 50,000 was provided to the family from the Red Cross Society, the deputy commissioner said.

The deceased are residents of Gathi-Barwal in Kathua district.

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New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.

The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.

In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.

"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.

It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.

The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.

The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.

The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.

The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.