Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 24: Massive rain and cloud burst in the upper reaches of Gharota area created havoc with flood in Mishriwalla, Kanha Chak, Marh besides parts of Akhnoor areas, causing extensive damage to at least a dozen structures including three poultry farms and four culverts, roads and electric poles last night.
At least eight cattle were washed away while flood water entered many houses and shops causing extensive damage to the property of the people. The flood also caused soil erosion at many places including Kot Bhalwal, parts of Gharota, Kangrail, Kaink, Purkhoo, Mishriwalla and parts of Marh while standing crop of the farmers was extensively damaged. Three Kullahs of Gujjar families also washed away in flood near Mishriwalla while a wall of Cardboard factory near Kangrail was damaged causing extensive damage to the raw material.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Ajit Kumar Sahu along with Additional Dy Commissioner, Kalyan Singh, Tehsildar Jammu and SP Rural, SDPO Domana, Sanjay Parihar besides other officers visited many affected areas and took stock of situation. The District administration also provided immediate relief including ration and utensils to several families and shifted many to the safer locations.
Reports said it rained almost throughout the night but the flood in a limited area of Ban Talab, Kot Bhalwal, Kangrail, Buran, Kaink, Kangar and other low laying areas of Mishriwalla, Marh and Kanha Chak took place due to cloud burst. There was no much flood in other parts where rain continued through out the night including parts of Akhnoor and Jammu. The sudden flash flood was witnessed at around 2 am (midnight) after cloud burst in the upper reaches. The people were fast asleep. They woke up with sudden flash flood while rain was not so fast. The flood water was 4 to 5 ft in some areas.
The water entered many houses and caused damage to house hold items and electronic goods. It also caused some damage to Govt College of Engineering and Technology. The public property worth crores was said to be damaged in the flood. About a score of electric poles and transformers at few locations were damaged and power supply got affected. It has been reported that houses of Vijay Kumar, Dwarka Nath, Parshotam Lal, Kali Dass, Thoru Ram, Bodh Raj, Kewal Krishan, Sham Lal and many others got damaged. Many houses were submerged in flood water. Sarpanch Kangrail K L Sharma, Naib Sarpanch Rajan Sharma have demanded restoration of link road damaged and compensation to the affected families.
SHO Gharota, Insp Vinod Kundal disclosed that flash flood caused extensive damage to three link roads connecting Jammu -Gharota- Akhnoor road with main Jammu -Akhnoor- Poonch Highway. In Purkhoo area also the water entered many shops. Near Kangar a culvert/ Puli got damaged and road washed away there. The flood water also entered Panjwati Colony and caused damage. In Chak Patta, Purkhoo and Mishriwalla area at least half a dozen houses got damaged. A poultry farm belonging to Ashwani Kumar near Kaink was washed away and nearly 3000 birds said to have been killed. Three sheds/ structures were washed away in flood. Massive land erosion has also taken place in the area. One Atta Chakki of one Bodh Raj also got damaged.
SHO Kanha Chak Insp Rakesh Sharma said damage was extensive in this entire belt including Marh areas. The water entered into over 60 to 70 houses. He said that he along with DC and SP Rural Jammu paid visit to the affected area and noticed public property worth crores damaged in the flood. He disclosed that standing crop in many fields got damaged while land erosion has occurred at many places. At Pakhian village near Mishriwala a house was collapsed and property damaged.
At Chatha Gujran, two Kullahs were washed away. One cow and two buffaloes of one Vijay Kumar got washed away and at least eight other cattle were also washed away in separate incidents. A poultry farm of one Swarn Singh was also washed away and all the chicken got killed. One `Gatta’ factory was also damaged near Kangrail. The Revenue authorities were assessing the damage caused to the public property.
At Kashmiri Mohalla in Akhnoor town, the flood and rain water entered in many houses and caused damage to the public property. The people woke up and started saving their household items. Water even entered into the bed boxes of many people. At least 40 families were affected in the locality. At Targwal village four houses were partially damaged. Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma also paid visit to the area and MC Akhnoor authorities started work to clear nearby nallah and main drain in the area on the instructions of Minister. He also visited parts of other affected areas and took stock of situation.
Dy Commissioner Jammu, Ajit K Sahu when contacted said that after receiving information, he along with ADC Kalyan Singh and other officers visited many areas of Marh, Mishriwalla, Kanha Chak, Kot Bhalwal and Gharota and took stock of situation today. He said at least eight houses have been damaged fully or partially while water entered into nearly 100 houses and shops causing damage to public property. He said much damage has been caused in the areas where people have encroached upon nallahs and raised structures at nearby vulnerable areas. He disclosed that three Kullahs of Gujjar families also washed away. The DC disclosed that ration and utensils were provided to the affected families while some were evacuated to safer areas. He said the Revenue officials were on the job to prepare detail of losses.
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