Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 27: Two minor girls died after they were washed away in a flooded lane in Janipur area this morning, a middle aged woman was buried alive under the debris of her Kucha house in Chingus area of Rajouri while season’s heavy rain caused massive destruction in Jammu city and other areas of the district besides in Samba and Kathua areas today.
River Tawi was flowing above alert mark this evening while river Basantar in Samba and Tarnah in Hiranagar (Kathua) were flowing at danger mark. An alert was sounded by Kathua district administration in low lying areas of Ujh, apprehending devastation. The water level in river Chenab was continuously rising and was nearing alert mark at 7.30 pm this evening. Water level in Tawi was near 14 ft at 7 pm which was one foot above the alert mark while 17 ft is the danger mark.
Due to rising water level in flooded Chenab river, the authorities also sounded alert in all the villages along the river in Akhnoor, Jourian, Khour and Pargwal. The Dam authorities at Salal opened some gates in the evening due to massive flood in the river and continuous rain in hilly areas of Reasi, Ramban and Doda districts.
The incessant rain since early hours today in Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota, RS Pura, Bishnah, Gharota, Bari Brahmana, Vijaypur, Samba and Kathua areas created havoc. It was said to be the highest rainfall of the season in Jammu. The river Devak was also flowing near danger mark and both Basantar and Devak which meet in Ramgarh sector, caused damage to the newly raised 400 mt bund at Camour Camp in Ramgarh.
Large cracks have developed in the newly raised bund by the Flood Control authorities of Samba on which over Rs 4.50 crore was spent recently. The water also entered some areas of Ramgarh and caused damage to the property of people and the standing crops. The people apprehend that bund would breach if heavy flood triggered next time.
The Excelsior Lane near High Court and Lower Courts complex witnessed heavy flood this morning. The water level suddenly started rising in the lane as a portion wall of the court complex fell down and large water pool generated there started flowing down the lane.
Two minor girls Meenakshi (9), daughter of Ramesh Chander, resident of Dhiari ( Ramnagar) and presently residing in the area along with her friend Sakshi (7), daughter of Rudi Ram, of Excelsior Lane (Janipur), were washed away. Their bodies were trapped in the deep drain under the slab of the shops. Their school bags were found lying near the main road later.
The mishap took place at around 7.45 am when the girls were going to their school. Both were said to be the students of Blue Bird School. Later, after tough efforts and breaking the slab at front portion of the shop above drain, the bodies of the victims were retrieved by the people of the area. The police party had also arrived there. Later, the bodies were removed to the mortuary of GMC hospital. The district administration announced the ex-gratia relief of Rs 4 lakh each in favour of the family of the deceased girls.
Eye witnessed said that for the first time, about 3 to 4 ft water was witnessed in this lane. Four cars, two autorikshaws and seven bikes were also washed away in the flooded lane. Once it was a nallah and later converted into the lane. Two deep drains were constructed on both sides. But during rainy season, it is often flooded but this time, the flood caused havoc.
The water entered into many houses and shops and also broke walls and gates of many people. At many places, this lane has been virtually converted into a ‘Khud’. The people alleged that before rainy season, no drain clearance work was initiated by the JMC authorities and therefore, the choked nallahs and deep drains caused flood.
Similar flood was witnessed in Bhawani Nagar, Naseeb Nagar and Shant Nagar areas besides Shivalik Puram, Janipur Colony, Roop Nagar, Muthi and Paloura areas. The traffic on New Plot- Ban Talab and Gharota road was also disrupted. Water also created havoc in Sector 9 of Nanak Nagar, Gangyal, Digiana, Preet Nagar, Qasim Nagar, Kalka Colony- Bahu Fort, Trikuta Nagar near Panj Mandir, Channi Rama, Pamposh Colony Bypass and Rohi Morh near Lower Gadi Garh area of Gandhinagar.
Some houses were also damaged in these areas. The people held protests at several places including Bypass Road near Gurdawara ( Malik Market) today against Government and JMC authorities. They said that roads and lanes have washed away and also got damaged in floods and drains were not cleared by JMC before rainy season. In Kathua town also, water entered many houses in various localities and damaged public property.
In many parts of Jammu city, the water logging created problem and disrupted movement of traffic. At Canal Road near Science and Commerce Colleges, nearly 3 to 3.5 ft water was witnessed in the morning. Two cars got trapped in the water for long and were later dragged out. The water entered many houses and shops in Krishna Nagar, Bhagwati Nagar, Mohinder Nagar and Talab Tillo areas.
Another report from Rajouri said that 45 years old Arshed Begum, wife of Muneer Hussain, was buried alive after her house collapsed this morning during heavy rain. The other members of Muneer’s family had miraculous escape. The police party from Police Post, Chingus reached the village Sawani where this incident took place. Later, the dead body was retrieved from the debris.
Report from Katra said that another Kucha house with Tin roof collapsed on Panthal road during heavy rain and two persons were injured. The victims identified as Mubarak (24), son of Mohd Anwar (labourer) and Altaf Hussain, son of Bashir Ahmed (18) from Mahore area were removed to local hospital for treatment.
Helicopter service to Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine from Katra base camp remained suspended due to rain and bad weather while yatra went on smoothly during the entire day. The authorities sounded alert along the track in Adhkunwari and Sanji Chhat area fearing landslides. Due to land slides on Domail –Katra road , hardly 2 kms short of Katra, the traffic between Jammu and Katra-Reasi has been diverted to Panthal-University Road. The road was expected to be restored by 10 pm, a senior police officer said.
The traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was disrupted for about half an hour due to mud slides and landslides at Panthial and Gangroo besides Seri but it was cleared shortly by the Highway authorities.
A JCB was buried under the landslides near Ramban bridge where road widening work was in progress. The driver of the JCB escaped with some injuries and was admitted to Ramban hospital. He was identified as Sarwan Singh, hailing from Gurdaspur in Punjab.
Official sources said that Reasi-Mahore road was blocked for about two hours due to landslides at Karud nallah. Mahore-Sarh road was still blocked till late this evening. Lakhanpur-Basohli road was also blocked due to landslides and flood in a nallah near Basantpur. A bus got trapped in the nallah. It was cleared after four hours. Traffic on Dayalachak-Billawar road was also suspended for several hours due to flooded nallahs between Pacca Kotha and Dinga Amb.
A Met spokesman said that Jammu recorded a rainfall of 162 mm since last evening up to 5.30 pm on Wednesday. It was the highest rainfall recorded in Jammu so far during this rainy season. He predicted light to moderate rainfall in most of the area of Jammu region in next 24 hours.
Reports from Srinagar said that heavy rains since early this morning resulted in considerable drop in the temperature in the Kashmir valley, where more wet weather is predicted during the next 72 hours.
Many roads in the city were water logged where people mostly remained confined to their homes due to curfew restrictions and strike.
The incessant rains, which began at around 3:45 am, brought respite to the people from scorching heat. However, in the evening rains stopped but sky was overcast.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Sonum Lotus, predicted more rains till Thursday. “Light to moderate rains would continue to occur across the Valley till Thursday,” he said.
He added that there would be considerable improvement in weather from Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the heavy rains caused water logging in several city areas including Lal Chowk,Jawahar Nagar, Rambagh, Raj Bagh, Khanyar, Habba Kadal, Nowpora and Bemina. The inhabitants said that no action was taken by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to dewater their areas till late evening.
Srinagar recorded 29.7 mm rainfall since 0830 hrs to 1730 hrs today resulting in considerable drop in the maximum temperature, which was 19.5 degrees, 10 notches below normal. The minimum temperature was also 17.4 degrees, two notches below normal in the city. Qazigund, recorded highest 33.8 mm rainfall followed by Kokernag 32.2 mm from 0830 hrs to 1730 hrs today. Pahalgam, base camp of holy Amarnath cave, ski resort of Gulmarg and Kupwara received 7.8 mm, 19.2 mm and 21.8 mm rainfall, respectively. Kargil town was hottest in the region with 34.7 degree maximum temperature followed by Leh 30.8 degree Celsius, a Met spokesman said.
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