Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 13: While the dead body of third student who went missing in flash flood after cloudburst in Batote area of Ramban district last evening was recovered today; another dead body of a middle aged villager was recovered from a nallah in Mahore area this morning whereas, authorities cleared Batote-Kishtwar and Reasi-Mahore road today.
Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Kud, Nashri and Batote area was cleared for one- way traffic last evening after being closed for about two-three hours due to heavy rain and cloud burst at Patnitop mountains. The highway was today restored for two-way traffic. The flash flood caused extensive damage to the road at many places and also to the shops and houses at main market Kud, Batote area besides Mada village and other locations. Several vehicles were also damaged due to this natural tragedy.
The dead body of 14- year- old girl student namely, Payal, daughter of Raj Kumar Raj, resident of Lidhwal village near Batote was recovered about 2 kms down stream today. The police and locals of the area again started search for the dead body in the morning and managed to recover it today. The dead body was brought to Batote hospital by police and then after completion of legal formalities was handed over to the family for last rites. The last rites of the other two students were also performed today.
The family members, relatives of the deceased and villagers also held brief protest against the staff of Govt Middle School, Lidhwal (Batote) and demanded stern action against them. They alleged that due to negligence on the part of Head Master and other teachers, the students lost their lives. These seven teachers and a PET have already been placed under suspension by the authorities.
A senior police official said that Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road which was blocked due to land slides at Assar and Raggi nallah on Thursday, was restored at around 11 AM today. He said the traffic was normally plying on this road. The two way traffic has also been restored on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway as the boulders, mud etc has been cleared in Nashri, Kud and Batote areas. The mud/slush etc in Kud Bazaar was also cleared today as the weather improved. The shopkeepers have suffered heavy losses.
Meanwhile, the dead body of Abdul Gani, son of Mohammadu, resident of Pagiala in Gulabgarh area of Mahore (Reasi), who went missing along with his 15 year- old son, was recovered today. The police and locals of the area could trace his body about 800 mts down stream. The dead body of his son, Irfan is still untraced and the search for the same is going on, police said.
Reports of damage to over two dozen houses has been received from Shajroo, Malas, Mokha, Saldar and Jamaslan areas of Mahore Sub Division. The Deputy Commissioner Ravinder Kumar has directed the concerned SDM and Revenue officers to conduct the assessment and provide immediate relief to the suffering public.
A Met spokesman said that with the rain in higher reaches of Jammu region including Doda-Bhaderwah, Ramban, parts of Reasi and Udhampur today has brought down the temperature in Jammu areas, providing some relief to the people from scorching heat. He said that after 4 pm, a sharp fall in city’s temperature has been observed. He said that in next 24 hours light to moderate rain and thunder shower would occur at many places of the region.
Dr Mahender Singh, senior scientist Agrometrology Department SKAUST Jammu said Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 39.2 degree C but the temperature experienced fall in the evening due to thundershower at many places in hilly areas. The minimum temperature recorded by SKUAST in Jammu was 25.7 degree celsius today which was about 1.2 degree below normal. He said that due to western disturbances massive rain and cloudburst incidents have been reported yesterday. It is happening for the last couple of days and will continue for the next 2-3 days.
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