Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 23: In a major rescue operation that was launched by police on Zogila, around 50 persons were rescued after cloudburst struck the mountain near Captain Morh on Srinagar-Leh national highway last night.
The highway that was closed after the cloud burst, was thrown open this evening for one-way traffic after Border Roads Organization (BRO) pressed their men and machinery into road clearance operation early this morning.
Around 300 persons mostly truck drivers and conductors remained stranded on the highway after cloud burst triggered mudslides and washed away a portion of the Highway.
Policemen led by Superintendent of Police, Shahid Mehraj, while crossing through mud slides rescued on foot over 27 passengers, mostly children and women, and brought back them down to Sonmarg. The operation was started late night and continued up to 3 a.m. when all the stranded passengers were rescued.
The rescued people were provided food, clothes and medical treatment at Sonmarg. The drivers and conductors of around 200 trucks that remained stranded on the highway and who refused to leave their trucks unattended were also provided food and necessary medical aid by the police.
The cloud burst struck the highway on Zogila near Bajira Nalla and Captain Morh washing away around 100 meters of upper portion of the highway. It also triggered 25 slides at different place on the mountain blocking the highway.
The highway remained blocked for traffic during the day today and BRO pressed their men and machinery into road clearance operation since morning and at around 5 p.m. the highway was re-opened. The one-way traffic was allowed on the highway and BRO are repairing the portions of the highway for two way traffic.
In the meantime, search operation to trace out the Head Constable N K Tiwari of BSF, who went missing yesterday after a BSF post was washed away following a cloud burst in Gurez sector of north Kashmir Bandipora district, continued for second day today.
A BSF post and 24 structures were washed away in a cloud burst in Tulail and Dawar area near the Line of Control (LoC) yesterday.
Seven BSF men were rescued, 5 in injured condition, while Tiwari went missing.
Minister of State for R&B, Javed Ahmed Dar today visited Gurez and took stock of the situation caused by flash floods due to torrential rains during past some days in the area.
The Minister along with MLA Gurez Nazir Ahmad Gurezi and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Dr. Asgar Samoon visited most affected flood areas, like Barnai, Chorwan and Kachwat villages and got feedback of the damages of crops and properties.
In Barnai village, a bridge along with road besides a BSF bunker, water supply scheme and irrigation canal have been washed away by the flood. The Minister was apprised that in Kachwat village, five shops have been damaged, while at Chorwan headquarter, one residential house was fully damaged and 24 residential houses were partially damaged due to floods.
The local revenue authorities also informed the Minister that besides damage of water supply scheme, the standing crops over 300 kanals of land have also been affected and damaged due to recent flash floods.
On the occasion, the Minister while assuring the affected families assured full support of the government for their rehabilitation, issued direction to the concerned officers to restore all the affected water supply schemes and other public utilities on war footing basis. He also instructed concerned authorities to ensure timely assessment of losses of crops and property for relief and compensation from the Government to the affected families.
MLA Gurez on the occasion, announced two months free ration to the affected families out of his CDF. A large number of deputations also met the team and apprised them about the various problems and developmental needs.
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