- Several houses, buildings damaged
- Landslides block Jammu-Sgr NH
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 29: Four persons including three minors were killed in rain related incidents while as several houses and buildings were damaged in Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi and other parts of Jammu region due to continuous heavy rainfall since last evening which also triggered landslides at several places in Ramban district resulting into closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while as dozens of livestock including goats, sheep and horses perished in incidents of lightening and flash flood in Samba and Ramban districts.
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A heavy spell of incessant rain since Sunday evening created havoc in several parts of Jammu, particularly hilly districts of Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar. According to the reports, a 65-year-old man namely Mohd Shafi who was grazing cattle at Deval got slipped and fell into a flooded nallah. His body was recovered later while as a 17 year-old girl namely Mumira Bano daughter of Abdul Rashid resident of Kali Mastt (Gool) washed away in Dunga nallah while returning from a marriage party. The body of the girl was yet to be traced.
Besides, a four-storey ‘kacha’ house belonging to Abdul Majid son of Ghulam Mohd in village Shadole of Gulabgarh area completely collapsed due to a landslide this morning. Subsequently, the villagers immediately retrieved essential items from the damaged house. Also, Mahore to Budhal Road was closed due to landslide at Panjara.
In Kishtwar district, 12 houses, a cattle shed and a Government school building suffered damage in various parts of Kishtwar district. While one ‘kacha’ house was damaged fully in tehsil Nagesni, 7 ‘pacca’ and 2 ‘kacha’ houses were damaged partially in tehsil Mughalmaidan. Further in tehsil Kishtwar, one ‘pacca’ house was severely damaged, one ‘kacha’ house was partially damaged while as a cattle shed damaged fully and a primary school got partially damaged. Due to flash floods, the water supply to Kishtwar town was snapped following significant damage to the main 250 mm diameter water supply pipes of the Naigad Water Supply scheme at Hunjala and the efforts were on to restore the water supply.
In Ramban district, a 13-year-old boy namely Yaqoob Mir son of Hassan Din Mir died this afternoon at his residence in Karool area after he was hit by a boulder amid incessant rains which also damaged two houses in village Batsool of Seri Panchayat and one house in Chachwah area of Panchayat Gool. Further, eight families living near DC office Ramban were relocated after fresh cracks developed in their houses. Moreover, 5 horses died and 2 went missing in flashflood at Khairkot (Nowgam) area of Banihal whereas 42 goats and sheep of a Bakerwal namely Showkat Ali were killed in lightening strike at Sanasar.
A 13-year old boy namely Firdous Ahmed of village Kund-Mallan in Dessa tehsil of Doda district slipped and got drowned in flooded Kund Nullah. Police and locals have launched an operation to retrieve the body of the boy. Also, Assar link road was blocked this morning due to heavy landslide.
In Samba district, 29 goats of two families perished due to an alleged lightening strike this afternoon in village Palth of Panchayat Mananu. As per reports, a team of veterinary doctors from a nearby veterinary hospital reached the spot and performed postmortem of the dead goats to ascertain actual reason of death.
The incessant rains also forced closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at many places between Nashri and Banihal in Ramban district due to multiple landslides and shooting stones triggered by heavy rains since last night. The Highway was still blocked at Mehar, Gangroo and Kishtwari Pathar due to mudslide and shooting stones when the last reports came in as it was still raining, hampering restoration works. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded between Udhampur and Banihal. The Traffic authorities in Ramban have advised commuters to avoid journey on the highway till it is cleared of the debris.
Mughal Road, an alternate route linking Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu with south Kashmir’s Shopian district, also remained closed for the third day owing to snowfall in Peer Ki Gali and adjoining areas, the officials said.
District administration of hilly districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Ramban have advised the public not to venture near river banks and other water bodies due to inclement weather conditions as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts for tomorrow while predicting light to moderate rainfall in most places, with isolated instances of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the hilly areas.
On the orders of district administration, the schools also remained closed for the day in Doda district as a preventive measure while as District administration Reasi has ordered closure of all Government/private schools in the district for tomorrow.
Taking cognizance of the damage to 12 houses in Kishtwar, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh spoke to DC Kishtwar Devansh Yadav. “Just now spoke to DC#Kishtwar Sh Devansh Yadav, after learning about the landslide causing damage to 12 houses in Kishtwar. Mercifully, no loss of life, Incessant rain continues. All possible relief and rehabilitation measures initiated,” the Union Minister tweeted.
The heavy rains also brought down the maximum and minimum temperatures by several notches below normal temperature. Jammu recorded maximum temperature of 24 degree C (11.6 degrees below normal), Banihal 9.2 degree C (15.3 degree below normal), Batote 9.2 degree C (11.1 degree below normal), Katra 22 degree C (10.2 degree below normal) and Bhaderwah 12.2 degree C (13.5 degree below normal). The minimum temperature in Jammu was recorded at 18.1 degree C, at Banihal 7.8 degree C, Batote 8.4 degree C, Katra 14.6 degree C and Bhaderwah 9.4 degree C.
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