Cloud burst in Tral: NH closed, re-opened
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 18: Two persons including a 12th class girl, were washed away in a flooded nallah in remote Panchound area of Dudu in district Udhampur, while a youth was killed in land slides in Poonch as rain paralysed normal life in many parts of Jammu region today.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed due to heavy rain at Kheri near Udhampur and at three places in Ramban in the morning due to land slides and shooting stones but the highway authorities cleared the slides and pave way for Shri Amarnath Yatra. Several link roads in the region were also closed but were restored in the afternoon.
Reports from Latti said that 12 class student Rekha Devi (17), daughter of Rattan Lal, resident of Panchound village was crossing nallah. Suddenly the water started rising. A water millar at the nearby ‘Gharat ‘ noticed and rushed to rescue the girl, but he also along with the girl was washed away in the flooded nallah. Their bodies could not be traced till late this evening.
The millar was identified as Mohd Sharief (66), son of Nizam Din, resident of Panchound. The incident took place at around 9 am today when the girl was returning home after grinding wheat from the water mill at the bank of this nallah. The villagers and police from Dudu started search operation but they could not be traced. The locals recovered shoes and blanket of Mohd Sharief in the evening down stream.
The people alleged that despite old demand of foot bridge on this nallah, the Government and District Administration failed to take necessary steps. They said about eight years ago, two school girls had been washed away in this nallah when they were returning home from the school.
At village Lasana in Poonch, 25-year-old Mohd Farid Khan, son of Mohd Sharief, resident of the same village was hit by land slides near his village. He was rushed to Surankote hospital where he was declared as dead by doctors.
In yet another incident of landslides at Barmeen in Udhampur, a woman- Sushma Devi (33), wife of Bhikham Ram of the same area was injured. She was travelling in a bus when mishap took place. All other passengers escaped unhurt. She was removed to district hospital Udhampur.
Reports said that due to rain Ram Nagar-Basantgarh road and Udhampur- Pancheri road was closed. One Sushma Devi of Barmeen was injured in land slides but she was out of danger. Reasi-Mahore road was also blocked at two places due to land slides but was cleared in the evening. Basohli- Bani road was also blocked due to flood in Sukha Nallah and land slides at Piprhi but the road was cleared at around 1 pm at sliding area and Sukha Nallah at around 4 pm.
In Ramban area, the highway remained blocked during morning hours at Panthial, Battery Chashma and Khuni Nallah, however, it was cleared by the authorities. But the smooth traffic was restored at 4 pm when the rain stopped. Earlier, the vehicles of Shri Amarnath pilgrims were cleared.
In Jammu, water logging was created on several city roads due to heavy downpour in the morning. On Canal Road and Gandhinagar Main Stop besides several other areas water logging disrupted the movement of vehicles and common people. Near GGM Science College knee deep water hit the movement of students and other people. The water also entered several houses in the low lying areas of Gangyal, Nanak Nagar, Talab Tillo, Bhagwati Nagar and Krishna Nagar areas. No major loss has been reported. River Tawi, Basanatar, Ujh and Devak were flooded but were flowing below alert mark.
Reports from Srinagar said that several residential houses were damaged after a cloud burst triggered flashfloods in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Reports said that a residential house was completely damaged and some others suffered partial damage after hit Brinpathri village of Tral after the cloudburst. Reports said that the flashflood water entered into dozens of residential houses in Nagbal and Naristan villages, resulting in damage to the public property.
Reports added that many families were shifted to safer places after rescue operation by civil and police administration. However, no loss of life was reported in the cloudburst. Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed Kashmir valley today since morning hours.
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