Families shifted from danger zone
Nishikant Khajuria
REASI, Aug 19: Part of Talwara migrant colony near the Reasi town plunged into danger zone as landslide with heavy rain buried several houses after a major portion of the adjoining hill crashed down, here this afternoon.
Even as there was no loss of life or injuries to anyone, the district administration swung into action and shifted affected families from the danger zone to nearby NHPC sheds besides sounding an alert for avoiding any mishap as the rain was continuing in the area.
Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Babila Rakwal told the Excelsior that 11 affected families under the danger zone were shifted to safer place and the district administration was constantly monitoring the situation.
Reports said heavy rainfall triggered massive landslide at Talwara around 12 noon when a major portion of nearby hill crashed down and grabbles mixed with muddy water entered into five houses of the Talwara migrants thus extensively damaging the Kachha structures which got partially buried under the trash.
“From the last few days, small debris was regularly coming with rain water but today it was like flood of mud and grabbles burying our houses,” said one of the affected migrants in the colony.
However, there was no loss of life as the families timely left their houses and moved to safer places while administration also rushed to the village and launched relief operations.
On the direction of DC Reasi, ACR Reasi Abdul Satar and Tehsildar Munshi Ram along with other officials and a Police team rushed to the spot and launched relief and rescue operation.
“After assessing the situation in the area under danger zone, we have shifted 11 families to a nearby NHPC shed besides pressing into service a JCB to clear the debris from the nallah so that rain water may not cause further damage,” said ACR Reasi, Abdul Satar.
He further informed that supply of water and electricity has been provided at the NHPC shed where the affected families have been shifted.
According to the affected migrant families, they were left with no time to collect their belongings as their houses suddenly came under the debris.
However, sources in the district administration said that the area was already declared under danger zone because of nearby hill, portions of which used to crash down and notices were already served to these people several times. The area under danger zone is extended part of the Talwara migrant colony, which houses more than 500 families who had migrated from Doda, Rajouri, Mahore, Gulabgarh and other areas because of militancy.
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