* Flood water enters many houses in city
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 12: Heavy rain threw normal life out of gear in the winter capital city here as flood water from lanes and drains created massive water logging at many places while drain water entered many houses and shops about a dozen city localities whereas, traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was disrupted for several hours due to land slides in Ramban area today.
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Katra Mata Vaishnodevi Yatra was diverted to the other route after land slides took place near Ban Ganga (Darshni Deodi) and on Battery car track. Near Darshani Deodi, a boulder fell down on a parked Auto-rikshaw causing extensive damage to it while a woman pilgrim received minor injuries. The track was cleared shortly. Helicopter service from Katra base camp to the Shrine was also suspended in view of bad weather and rain till this afternoon.
Official sources said that due to land slides and shooting stones at Panthial, Battery Chashma, Digdol and Maroob in Ramban and Ramsu area, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for about two hours in the morning. The Highway authorities however, cleared the slides and boulders and also cleared the stranded vehicles. Later, Shri Amarnath ji Yatra was also cleared for Kashmir and also back to Jammu.
While Reasi-Mahore Road was blocked due to land slides near village Daman today, the house of one Abdul Ghani at Angrala (Mahore) was fully damaged due to heavy rain. The family members, however, had miraculous escape in mishap.
Reports from Katra said that near Darshni Deodi Autori-kshaw Stand, a big boulder fell on a parked Autorikshaw. A 65-year-old pilgrim, Ratn-ama, wife of Mastanya, resident of Nallular in Andrapradesh was injured and was removed to Katra hospital. The road was cleared shortly by the Shrine Board authorities. The other pilgrims had miraculous escape in the incident. Bhairon Ghati track was also closed due to bad weather today.
In Jammu, water logging at Main Stop Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Na-gar, Digiana, near Satwari Airport Road, Canal Road near Commerce College, Talab Tilloo and several other areas created havoc. The massive rain and water logging during morning hours badly affected the movement of normal traffic. Near Jammu Airport, the flooded drain water entered about a dozen shops, causing massive loss to the traders.
The flooded water from deep drains and nallahs also entered many houses at Sector 7 Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar Digiana, Rajiv Nagar, Qasim Nagar, Bilal Colony, Pamposh Colony and Channi Ram area. At Rajiv Nagar, a Pulli due to flood in Nallah collapsed and the flooded water spread to adjoining areas and entered many houses, causing damage to their property. The locals of the area then held protest against the JMC and local administration for some time. They were later joined by former MLA Raman Bhalla. The people alleged that de-silting in many drains and deep drains was not done before the onset of monsoon and the water instead of flowing into the drains and coming on the lanes and entering houses of the people.
Due to rain, several rivers and seasons nallahs were flooded but the water remained below alert mark. Even water in Chenab river remained around 28 ft and river Tawi, Ujg and Basatar were flowing below alert mark. Seasonal nallahs disrupted movement of vehicles in the interior roads in Samba, Kathua, Akhnoor and other parts of Jammu today.
Our Srinagar Correspondent adds: Moderate to heavy rainfall lashed Kashmir and resulted in water-logging in low lying areas including residential colonies.
Incessant rainfall lashed Valley since pre-dawn hours and continued till afternoon. The rainfall increased water level in rivers and streams while the low-lying areas experienced water-logging.
The rains have resulted in water-logging throughout the low-lying areas including in residential colonies and market places, resulting in utmost inconvenience to local residents as well as pedestrians. Locals slammed Srinagar Municipal Corporation and said that the timely action could have prevented accumulation of water.
Meanwhile, multiple cloud burst triggered flashfloods at Muqam-e-Shahwali in frontier Kupwara district of north Kashmir yesterday, local residents said. They said that during heavy rains, multiple cloud bursts triggered flashfloods in the village yesterday which resulted in accumulation of water in residential houses and damaged two small bridges over a stream. However, there was no loss of life or injury to anyone.
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