Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 12: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and Doda-Kishtwar road have been blocked due to massive landslides at several places while Chenab and Basantar rivers were flowing at danger mark as heavy rain and thunder storm wrecked havoc across the region since last night paralyzing normal life of the people here.
About half a dozen villages and hamlets in Ramgarh area of Samba were marooned in flood water of Basantar river and the water level again increased after rain and flood early today. Four BSF posts were also marooned in flood and the BSF men were using motor boats for patrolling along the International Border in this sector for the last two days.
A large number of Shri Amarnath yatris have been stranded in Chanderkote and Ramban and on that side of the Jawahar tunnel. The State Administration decided to divert the Jammu bound convoy and the stranded Amarnath Yatris via Mughal road which was cleared for traffic this afternoon. Due to landslides over night this road had also been closed.
Reports from Ramban said that movement of vehicles came to halt in Ramban and Banihal section after landslides at Gangroo and Panthial last night at around 11 pm. The rain continued for the whole night in the area and landslides at about a dozen places including Seri, Batteri Chashma, Peerha and Nashri caused major blockades on the National Highway. The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway was also closed due to landslides near Raggi Nallah, Malhori and Assar areas. The traffic on both the highways could not be restored due to bad weather. A pucca house collapsed at Sadiqbad in Doda early today due to rain, however, no loss of human life has been reported.
A child Vihan (2yrs), son of Sohan Lal, resident of T-Morh Udhampur was killed after a shooting stone hit this child on the head at Seri sliding zone near Ramban today. He was moving along with his family members in their own Swift car towards Udhampur.
IGP Traffic, J P Singh told the Excelsior that no convoy of Shri Amarnath Yatris was allowed from Jammu today but some of the Yatra vehicles which left for Baltal and Pahalgam at their own remained stranded between Chenani and Kud for long. After Nashri and Peerha landslides were cleared they reached Chanderkote-Ramban area this evening. About 50 odd vehicles, mostly medium and LMVs have been stranded at this place. Langar is also there. Apart from this about 100 odd vehicles will be there in Ramban area. The movement of trucks and other vehicles from Udhampur onwards and Nagtora bypass has not been allowed for Kashmir and Doda-Kishtwar.
Similarly, large number of vehicles have been stranded in Banihal, Lower Munda and Qazigund areas. About 1000 odd vehicles have been stranded on this highway while over 500 vehicles are reported to have been stranded on Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road. The BRO men and machinery tried to clear the major slides at Gangroo, Panthial and Seri but they could not clear the highway due to bad weather and continuous shooting stones. The restoration work will be resumed tomorrow morning if the weather improved. The IG however, claimed that down traffic towards Jammu is being diverted via Mughal road and the blockades on this road have also been cleared. Since last evening, this road also remained closed due to landslides at few places including Chhattabal and Pir ki Gali.
Reports from Akhnoor said that river Chenab was flowing near danger mark of 35 ft between 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm this evening. The water level then started receding. It crossed the alert mark of 33 ft at around 3 pm.
The Administration sounded alert in the low lying areas and the villagers located near the bank of the river in Jourian, Khour and Pargwal were asked to stay away and remain at safer places. The flood water also entered in many fields of the farmers at some places and damaged standing crops in the low lying areas. The movement of traffic on the old cable stay bridge at Akhnoor was also stopped for some time by the local administration for precautionary measures and was diverted to the concrete bridge on the Poonch-Rajouri bypass road.
The flood water in river Basantar and Devak wrecked havoc again as the flood water from the breached bund at Rangoor camp entered several villages this morning. The water level in already marooned four BSF posts and many bunkers again rose up. The belongings of the villagers have been badly damaged and their crop in nearly 6-7 sq km area damaged. The BSF men were using boats for patrolling along the Indo-Pak border as entire area is marooned and there is 5 to 8 ft water is some areas. The administration has failed to provide any immediate relief to the people from Rangoor village, Rangoor Camp, Kamore camp, Ballarh, Pakhri, Banote, Kolpur, Nanga and other hamlets. There is strong resentment among the villagers as for the last three years, this breached bund was not properly restored. Only some artificial work was initiated by the Flood Control Department at this bund and huge bills were drawn by the Samba Flood Control Division officials. The villagers demanded high level inquiry into the matter.
SDM Vijaypur, Mr Rajneesh moved to Rangoor and Kamore camps and shifted about 100 families to thje safer places in schools and Govt buildings in the same area.
While helicopter service to Shri Mata Vaishnodevi shrine from Katra base camp remained affected due to bad weather, movement of on-foot yatra on newly constructed Panchhi track was stopped after landslides. The big boulders and shooting stones created blockade early today and the Shrine Board authorities stopped the yatra on new track while it continued uninterruptedly on the old and traditional track. No loss of life has been reported.
The people in several localities of Jammu city were affected with the flash flood in nullahs and water entered many areas like Qasim Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Nanak Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Channi Rama, Digiana and Sunjuwan. There is immediate need to initiate restoration work by the JDA, UEED and JMC authorities. The movement of vehicles on many rural roads in Jammu, Akhnoor, Reasi, and Samba areas has been affected due to flash flood in nullahs and landslides.
Reports from Udhampur and Reasi said that Ramnagar-Majori-Dudu Basantgarh and Chenani- Lati road besides Udhampur-Pencheri-Landhar roads have been closed. Reasi-Mahore-Gool and Mahore Sungri-Chasana and Gulabgarh roads have also been closed. About 2000 Amarnath yatris are stranded at Udhampur town. Reasi-Mahore link was however, restored for light vehicles this evening. Batote-Doda road was still blocked at Raggi Nallah and Assar.
In Rajouri, a small bridge gave way due to heavy rain and flood in a nullah on Rajouri-Poonch Bypass road. The movement of traffic was diverted to old route via Rajouri city and old Bus Stand. It however, created traffic jam in the congested city. There is no hope of restoration of bridge at the earliest.
Follow our WhatsApp channel