7 houses perish in landslides
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 12: As the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was restored for one-way traffic on the 7th day of closure this afternoon, about 1200 vehicles including 500 oil/LPG tankers were cleared for Kashmir by late this evening while at least seven houses were perished in massive landslide in Dudu area of district Udhampur.
Light rain in Ramban, Banihal and Qazigund areas started this evening besides light snowfall at Pir Panchal/ Jawahar Tunnel area but the authorities continued movement of vehicles till late this evening to ensure movement of maximum vehicles loaded with fuel, ration, vegetables and other essential items to Kashmir where shortage has hit the general public with the closure of the highway for so many days.
Two Bulldozer operators and a Police Constable from Ramsu Police Station deployed at Marog landslide were injured due to shooting stones this evening. While the cop was facilitating the safe movement of vehicles at this dangerous zone at around 5.30 pm, the two bulldozer operators sustained multiple injuries while removing slides at Marog.
IGP Traffic, J&K, Alok Kumar told the Excelsior that highway for one-way traffic was cleared at around 3.30 pm today after the entire landslides at Margo were cleared by the three machines deployed at the site. ” Our priority was to rush oil/ LPG tankers to Valley first besides stranded light passenger vehicles. He said shooting stones at Battery Chashma and Panthyal caused some disruption but movement of vehicles loaded with essential supplies continued towards Kashmir till late this evening.
The IG further said that light rain and snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel started this evening, but the deployment of Force in JT area was directed to ensure movement of maximum vehicles towards Kashmir. He said the highway is likely to be blocked any time in view of rain but about tomorrow’s movement, the decision will be taken in the morning after taking review.
SSP, National Highway Sanjeev Khajuria said that by 10 pm, the highway was clear and movement of the vehicles towards Kashmir was in progress. He said local Police, Traffic police, NHAI and project HCC men were deployed at various places and they were facilitating the movement of vehicles at landslide zones and snow clad Jawahar Tunnel area. Khajuria said till 10 pm about 1200 vehicles including 520 oil/LPG tankers had crossed JT area for Kashmir valley.
The SSP said that shooting stones at Marog late this evening temporarily stalled the movement of vehicles as two Bulldozer operators were injured and of rushed to Ramban Hospital. He said earlier during this evening, a Selection Grade Constable, Inayat was injured in shooting stones at same place. He was deployed there to facilitate movement of vehicles.
Deputy Commissioner Showkat Aijaz Bhat personally monitored the road clearance operation from early morning which was launched by the construction agencies at Panthyal, Marog and Battery Chashma for reopening of highway.
SSP, Ramban, Anita Sharma, SSP Traffic, Sanjeev Khajuria, ADC Dr Basharat Hussain, Dy SP Traffic Suresh Sharma and various officers of civil and police administration supervised the road clearance operations at different landslide spots.
The DC directed the authorities and other executing agencies to keep adequate men and machinery to remove landslides instantly from National Highway to avoid traffic jamming and breakdown besides ensuring traffic worthy road. He requested passengers to contact Traffic Control rooms before starting their journey on the highway.
Reports from Udhampur said that seven houses were totally perished in massive land slides at Didi Begad village near Jakhed in Dudu Sub Division this afternoon. Three adjoining houses developed cracks and were abandoned before the tragedy struck. All these families have been forced to take refuge in the neighbourhood.
The main Chenani -Latti-Dudu road has also been extensively damaged with land slides. About half a dozen poles were uprooted. The power supply to this entire area has already been snapped for the last more than one week. This fresh land slide has compounded the power crisis. Another land slide at Doana village last evening also caused extensive damage to Latti-Dudu road.
The villagers whose houses have been damaged at are- Ghulam Hussain, Khursheed Ahmed, Maqbool Hussain, Mohd Amin, Mohd Mushtaq, Noor Mohd and Mohd Akhtar. No loss of life was reported as the people had abandoned the houses after movement of slides started two days earlier.
Today morning, Tehsildar Vivek Gupta and Naib Tehsildar Latti, Bishan Dass along with police team and local Sarpanch ( Latti), Kasturti Lal Gupta rushed to the site on the call of villagers and shifted the villagers to safer places. The incident took place at around 2.30 pm today and most of the costly items had already been shifted from these houses to the safer places by the people.
The kucha house of Shanti Devi, a poor widow, resident of Begad also collapsed on Monday and her household goods were buried under the debris. However, three members of the family had miraculous escape. The Tehsil Administration provided free ration to the poor family. The families of three adjoining houses at Didi Begad were shifted to safer places. These families were provided a little immediate assistance by the local administration.
Gupta said that for the last eight days, entire Dudu area is cut off. There is no power. Water supply and moreover in Latti power supply was restored after seven days last evening. The water supply is still affected. He said there was no doctor at Latti tehsil headquarters and entire Dudu Sub Division. Two NHM doctors deployed at Latti were on strike and didn’t visit the hospital. The public of this remote area is suffering.
Meanwhile, entire Doda-Kishtwar-Bhaderwah area was still reeling under darkness and water supply to many snow bound areas could not be restored. Latti-Dudu-Basantgarh-Majori -Ramnagar road and many other link roads in Doda-Kishtwar and Ramban are still blocked.
In the meantime, there was fresh snowfall in the hills of Kashmir while the plains were lashed by rains.
Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus, said that there will be heavy rains and snowfall in Kashmir during next two days. “Currently, it’s raining slightly in Banihal, Srinagar and Qazigund and snowing slightly in Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Intensity and distribution of rain and snow will increase gradually mainly from tomorrow morning. Heavy snow/rain most likely during 13th night and 14th night is most likely to affect South Kashmir, Jawahar Tunnel, Ramban-Banihal and Doda areas”, he said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir today issued an avalanche warning for the next 24-hours for hilly and avalanche prone areas of Kashmir, Leh and Kargil districts.
“Avalanche warning valid for next 24-hours from February 12 (1700 hrs) to February 13, 2019 (1700 hrs) exists for avalanche-prone areas in Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil and Leh districts, ” a statement issued here said.
The Deputy Commissioners have been asked to take precautionary measures in their respective districts and advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the said period and so keep SDRF, police and para-medical staff with ambulances in readiness to avert any untoward incident.
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