NH, several other roads blocked due to landslides
Scores of houses damaged, power supply to many areas snapped
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Aug 26: A villager was killed in house collapse in Rajouri area, over 15 persons were rescued from flooded Ujh river in Kathua, a bridge was washed away in Jammu area while scores of houses were damaged as rain and floods wrecked havoc across J&K since last night.
Over 4000 vehicles were stranded on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to nearly a dozen blockades caused in Ramban and Banihal sectors of highway due to landslides since yesterday. No fresh movement of vehicles was allowed from Kashmir or Jammu side by the Traffic police authorities since Tuesday morning. in Ramban area alone, over 600 vehicles including most of the LMVs are stranded. The continuous rain and shooting stones hampered the restoration work at many places including Maroog, Panthyal, Battery Chashma, Dalwas, Trishul Morh, Seri, Cafeteria Morh, Monkey Morh and Digdole.
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River Tawi, Chenab, Ujh, Basantar, Ravi and Tarnah were flooded today after heavy rain. Chenab river was flowing closer to alert mark this evening. Flash flood in Balol Nallah washed away a bridge (vented causeway ) near Jeevan Nagar on Dharap Road. The road communication to a vast area has been snapped. This bridge had been constructed by R&B in 2010 with the cost of over Rs 1.04 crore. Kullahs of over a dozen nomad families in the same area of Dharap Road along Balol were also washed away along with household goods.
Official sources said that a villager was killed while infrastructure including electricity system and bridges suffered substantial damage due to incessant rains in Rajouri and Poonch districts. A number of domestic animals also perished in the heavy rains which battered the region for the last two days.
35-year-old Mohammad Showkat, son of Mohd Hussain, resident of Kaller Mora in Mendhar, at present Gola Nari, Kotli Kalaban in Manjakote (Rajouri), died after cattle shed collapsed during early morning today. He was inside shed at the time of incident and was trying to rescue his cattle. His four cattle also died on the spot.
Power supply to entire Mendhar area has been snapped due to damage to 33 KV lines from Draba and Manjakote in view of flash floods. “Men and machinery have been pressed into service for early restoration,” an official said.
He further said that main passage to footbridge connecting Jammu-Poonch highway with Rajouri Garden in Manjakote town near Thandikassi in Rajouri also got damaged due to heavy rains.
In Thannamandi area of Rajouri also around two dozen houses and 10 cattle shed were damaged. The farms, orchards of the people were also damaged due to landslides along an under construction PMGSY road in Upper Thannamandi near Police Station. An Alto car was also damaged in it.
Reports said that one cattle shed of Mohammad Aslam, son of Sab Din, resident of Sangiote in Mendhar area of Poonch district collapsed due to heavy rains in which five buffaloes died. In Surankote area of Poonch, landslide occurred at village Mastandhara due to heavy rainfall damaging Mastandhara link road and partially damaged the house of Mohd Sageer, son of Mehtab Din. Three vehicles also got damaged in this landslide.
A Tata Sumo got stuck in flash flood in Chhatral area of Mendhar. A police team headed by SHO Mendhar, Manzoor Kohli reached the spot and carried out the rescue operation using a JCB under the supervision of SDPO Mendhar Neeraj Padyar. The flooded water from drains entered many shops and houses in Mendhar town, causing damage to public property.
One person was rescued by the Indian Air Force, who was trapped in a flash flood in a river near Nowshera town this evening. This villager remained trapped for over 6-7 hours in the middle of the river. The local administration took up the issue with DC Rajouri who requested Army and IAF authorities for help. Late, in the evening, he was airlifted by a Chopper of IAF which took a sortie led by Sqd Leader Ganesh Parsad from Jammu airbase. Later, he was shifted to Nowshera hospital for treatment. He was mentally retarded and a non-local, the police said.
Sources said dozens of cattle sheds and Kucha houses collapsed in Poonch and Rajouri districts due to continuous rain. Mandi -Sawjian road also remained blocked due to heavy landslides and debris falling on road. Flash flood also washed away some houses in Sukka Katha area near Drungali river. Household and valuable items got perished whereas no damage to life was reported.
Meanwhile, the police rescued 15 members of nomad families from two different locations near main Ujh bridge and Shabbe Chak at the bank of river Ujh in Kathua. Rajbagh police party led by SHO Bhppinder Singh launched the operation and rescued these family members. Heads of these families are identified as Kasha and Mirza.
Basohli-Bani, Bani-Taggar, Billawar Machedi and Katli roads in district Kathua remained closed due to landslides. Traffic on Dayala Chak-Dinga Amb-Billawar Road was suspended for about three hours during morning due to flash flood in four Nallahs at Pacca Kotha, Pranjali, Nalla Thanggar and Kein. Power supply in entire Bani Sub Division and many parts of Billawar was snapped since last evening and could not be restored till this evening. A Bolera vehicle skidded off the road during heavy rain near Bani and was trapped in the trees. Four persons on board had miraculous escape. They sustained minor injuries. About 20 kanals of land of one Gian Chand at Lakhri village near Ramkote was washed away in flood. Bhini and Naj river were also over flooded. Massive land erosion took place in floods.
Flash flood in Nallahs and large drains in many parts of Jammu city wrecked havoc. In Kalika Nagar, Bahu Fort, Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar, Gangyal, Model Town, Jeevan Nagar, Bhour Camp, Bhore Kothe, Krishna Nagar, Channi Himmar, Channi Rama, Transport Nagar, Narwal, Near Oil Depots, Trikuta Nagar Extension, Gandhi Nagar Extension, Rajiv Nagar, Sainik Colony and many other localities the flood and rain water caused heavy damage. The water entered in many shops and houses and caused extensive damage to public property. The rain and flood water also entered the house of one Subhash Chander in sector 13, Nanak Nagar and caused damage to his property. The houses of many other people in the vicinity were marooned. The Power supply to many areas also remained snapped for hours together. The water supply also remained affected in many parts of Jammu today.
Water logging on National Highway at Gangyal and many other city roads and crossings hit smooth movement of traffic. Massive water logging was witnessed in SKUAST complex near Chatha in Jammu today due to flash flood in Balole Nallah. The entire complex was marooned in water and vehicles of staff got trapped. All the building including Administrative block, auditorium, conference hall, students’ centre and divisions were flooded. Lightning struck a temple in Pacca Danga area this morning causing minor damage to it, but none was injured.
On downstream side of Kunjwani-Bishnah road, a bridge stands constructed about 2 to 3 years back. On downstream side of this bridge at Bishnah and near an Ashram, there is encroachment as a huge wall has been constructed within the waterway of the nallah/bridge. “The administration needs to remove encroachment so that this bridge remains safe”, said Ramesh Kumar, who lives nearby.
Meanwhile, Jammu city recorded 56.3 mm rainfall during past 12 hours. The MeT office has issued yellow alert for the next 24 hours in Jammu region. It has predicted moderate to heavy rain in many parts of region tomorrow.
Reports from Udhampur said that Pancheri, Landhar, Ghordi-Barmeen and several other link roads were blocked due to landslides. Udhampur- Ramnagar road was also blocked in the afternoon at Kaugha due to land slides.
At Dalwas in Ramban area, the road has sunk. The NHAI machines were pressed into service but the highway could not be restored there for smooth flow of traffic. The rain during the day badly affected the restoration work, the senior NHAI official said.
Reports from Srinagar said heavy rains lashed Kashmir valley today bringing respite from the scorching heat that was witnessed over a period of last more than one month.
The rains, as the MeT had forecast a wet spell, started last night and continued till today afternoon. After that light rains were reported intermittently across the Kashmir region.
During the day, there were no reports of flash floods or water logging from any area of Kashmir valley, except Ganderbal and Bandipora.
The heavy rains had caused flash floods in Nilla Najwan area of Kangan in district Ganderbal. Further in Bandipora, Tulail road was blocked briefly due to the flash floods, and some damage was also reported to have caused to a water supply scheme in Gurez due to flash floods.
The people, however, felt a respite from the heat that was on for quite a time now. The rains brought down the temperature and the mercury hovered around 20 degree Celsius throughout the day.
“It was such a respite and was needed at this point of time; we already had deficit rainfall this year. There is quite a difference in the temperature and I think God has heard our prayers,” Imran Ahmad, a resident said.
Regarding the rainfall that was received during the day, till 5:30 pm since 8:30 am Kokernag had received 22.2mm, Pahalgam, 8.2mm, Qazigund, 18.6mm, Srinagar, 14.7 mm, Banihal 21.8 mm, Katra, 19.4mm and Bhaderwah, 7.9 mm of rain.
The MeT said that light to moderate rain will continue at several places of J&K and at scattered places in Ladakh. It also said that some places especially, in Jammu region are likely to receive a brief spell of heavy rain.
The overcast was predicted to remain through Wednesday and the weather is expected to improve by Thursday.
With regard to the gauge readings at various points of river Jhelum, the readings are way below from danger marks, though increasing. At 6 pm the gauge readings were recorded as Sangam 4.89ft, Ram Munshi Bagh 5.61ft and Asham 4.10ft.
The readings at other tributaries were recorded as Vishow Nallah at Khudwani (danger mark7.0), current 2.86m, Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi (danger mark 5.7), current 0.23m, Lidder Nallah at Batkoot (danger mark 1.65), current 1.22m, Doodhganga Nallah at Barzulla (danger mark 3.8), current 1.54m, Sindh Nallah at Doderhama (danger mark 3.35), reading at 6 pm was recorded as 1.46m.
MeT warned that rains might lead to flash floods, landslides in vulnerable spots especially in hilly areas and also asked to remain cautious for the next 2 days.
Meanwhile, 3 domestic animals died and several others injured after a shed collapsed due to rains in Pulwama district’s Argicheck village.
The incident occurred around 2 am last night in Malpora Mohalla in Argicheck village. The cowshed which collapsed belonged to one Abdul Hamid Malik.
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