Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 27: The Bantalab area, near here, today bore the brunt of poor preparation by Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to deal with flash floods triggered by incessant rains resulting which the irked locals and shopkeepers came on road and protested against the urban local body.
Residents of Upper Rajinder Nagar area and shopkeepers raised slogans against the JMC after flood water entered shops and residential area damaging items there.
The protesters informed that the flood water also entered a petrol pump and the shops thereby causing damage to the products kept there.
About one kilometer stretch of the road at upper Rajinder Nagar was badly damaged in the flash floods and people were seen removing water accumulated in their shops and houses.
“Few days back there was a similar situation after which we tried our best to seek help from JMC but our distress calls were not heeded and same thing happened today too,” Ajay Kumar who runs a shop in the area said.
“Intensity of the flash flood was so much that it brought a lot of silt and stones with it,” Mohan Lal-Manager at the petrol pump said.
Many locals informed that blocked Nallah and encroached land at village Patti which otherwise was natural path for the excessive water during rainfalls was the reason of flash flood.
“Had JMC removed illegal encroachment and de-silted the Nallah, much of the damage caused by the flood today could be avoided,” Bimla-a protesting lady said.
The affected people also said that JMC should de-silt the blocked Nallah and remove the illegal settlements in Khuds so that such floods could be avoided in future.
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