Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 12: While Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar roads remained closed on the second consecutive day today due to massive landslides and snowfall at several places, at least 50 houses/ shops have collapsed/ damaged across the region due to rains and snowfall and one person buried alive under land-slides in Panthial area of Ramban whereas, a large number of stranded passengers from Kashmir and Doda area held protest at Jammu Bus Stand today demanding their air-lifting.
As the weather improved today, the GREF men launched operation clearance on the Highway at Panthial, Seri, Battery Chasham, Ramsu and Nachlana area after 11 am today. The snow clearance work was also started from Banihal to Jawahar Tunnel, however, the highway could not be cleared till this evening. There was massive snow on both sides of the Tunnel while due to rain for several hours during morning, the clearance work commenced bit late. There will be no movement of traffic on the either side on Jammu-Srinagar Highway tomorrow and only stranded vehicles will be cleared if the road opened, a senior Traffic Police official said.
Due to non-clearance of boulders and land-slides in Assar, Malhori and Raggi Nallah area of Batote- Kishtwar road, the traffic could not be restored between Jammu-Doda-Kishtwar today. No movement of traffic was allowed from Udhampur onwards by the Traffic Policemen. Ramnagar- Dudu-Basantgarh, Basohli-Bani, Mahore- Gool, Budhal Chasana-Mahore roads were also closed.
A large number of passengers from Kashmir valley, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Kishtwar and other places have been stranded in Jammu and Udhampur. At Jammu Bus Stand, the passengers from these areas held protest demonstration, demanding their airlifting during the day today. They alleged that there was no money left with them and in the absence of shelter they were spending nights at Bus Stand Hall in the cold weather conditions.
Reports from Ramban said that 45-year old Manzoor Ahmed Mir, son of Ghulam Rasool, resident of Kondbal (Pampore) in Kashmir buried alive under the debris at Panthial on National Highway. Despite warnings, four persons tried to cross the land-siding zone on foot at around 7.30 pm last night. While three, managed to run away, Manzoor got trapped due to sudden land sliding. His body could be removed from the debris at around 3.30 pm today. The shooting stones halted operation at this place for long.
Due to flash flood at Tarnah river in Dinga Amb area of district Kathua, one Suresh Singh (35), son of Kartar Singh, resident of Garh village, was washed away last evening. The mishap took place at around 5 pm when the poor vegetable vendor, Suresh, a father of three minor children including two daughters, was returning home from Dinga Amb Bus Stand. There was flood in the river and he started crossing it on foot. As he reached in the middle, the water level suddenly started rising and he got trapped in the gushing water currents of Tarnah and ultimately washed away despite tough efforts to bail out. Some people noticed him and raised alarm.
The villagers of the area led by local Sarpanch Kuldip Gupta and police party started search for him. His body could be traced lying at the bank near Sallan at around 8.30 am today. After postmortem, the body was handed over to the family and cremated at Dinga Amb this afternoon. MoS Cooperatives Dr Manohar Lal visited the village and attended cremation.
In Mahore and Gulabgarh area of Reasi three more deaths have been reported due to house collapse. They included Mohd Rafiq (19), son of Ghulam Rasool of Neoch in Gulabgarh, Malook Singh, son of Laxman Singh of Mallikote (Chasana) and Yasin, son of Abdul Aziz of Kenthi.
Reports further said that there was no light in many parts of Ramban and Banihal, besides Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Doda while communication / BSNL services have also been badly hit. Due to snapping of link, the reports regarding house collapses were also awaited from many parts. DC Doda, Ramban and Udhampur said that concerned tehsildars have been directed to collect damage reports and by tomorrow some details will be available with them.
Dy Commissioner Reasi, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that reports received from various parts of the district have revealed that at least 18 houses were fully collapsed and eight partially due to rains and snowfall in last two days while ten cattle sheds have also received extensive damage. Forty goats/ sheeps are said to have killed in snowfall and hail storm. More reports are still pouring in. The communication to many areas has been snapped while power supply has also been affected, the DC maintained.
SDM Bhaderwah Bhupinder Kumar disclosed that ten houses were reported to have been collapsed due to heavy snow and rain in the area. He said many transformers were damaged due to lightning and snowfall and link roads closed. The telecommunication to many areas has also been snapped. He said that more details are still awaited. MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta said that there was no light in the town for the last two days as about half a dozen transformers in and around Bhaderwah town have got damaged. He demanded power and communication system restored to the area. In Charala and Thathri atleast half a dozen houses were collapsed due to snowfall and rain.
In Malikpura area of Gandoh, due to crack having developed to a big rock/ boulder, at least 16 shops on the main road have came under threat. The local administration has asked shopkeepers to remove their goods immediately and stay away at safer places. The movement of people has also been restricted and police party deployed there.
In Thanoa area of Rajouri, five sheep of Gulzar, son of Jumma, died due to hail storm last night. In Ramban area about six more houses have been reported collapsed since yesterday and the power supply is also badly hit. In Ramnagar area of Udhampur, five houses, two Government schools buildings and a shop collapsed due to rain.
Reports said shop and house of one Mohd Salim collapsed fully at Basantgarh, house of Khem Raj collapsed at Jakhed, House of Naro Devi at Panchout and Ballo Ram at Hartian in Ramnagar were also collapsed.
Reports from Samba said due to flash flood in Basanstar water entered in many fields and caused damage to standing mustard and wheat crop Rangoor Camp and Barota area. Two persons trapped on a tractor in the flooded river were also rescued by locals and police from Basantar river late last evening.
Reports from Kathua said that Ujh river was swollen and it caused damage to the crop in the low lying areas while Basohli-Bani road remained closed on the second consecutive day. The power supply to many areas of Bani, Duggan, Lohai Malhar and Machhedi has been snapped.
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