Fayaz Bukhari/ Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Mar 18: While incessant rains in plains of Kashmir and parts of Jammu region and snowfall in higher reaches for the last two days led to the rise in the water level in the streams, forcing the authorities in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district to close the schools for tomorrow, over 4000 stranded vehicles were cleared by the Traffic Police authorities as Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was opened today.
Two more dead bodies of the missing persons were recovered from Ramban area today while heavy rain and land slides again in the evening, blocked Jammu-Srinagar highway and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road late this evening. The hailstorm caused extensive damage to the crops in Poonch and parts of Rajouri while link to about half a dozen villages in Mendhar areas of Poonch got snapped as nearly 100 mt long culvert washed away in flash flood this evening.
The heavy rain continued throughout the day intermittently in Kashmir valley for second consecutive day today while there was fresh snowfall in the hills. The Weatherman has already predicted the rains and snowfall owing to fresh Western disturbances. “There shall be decrease in the precipitation from tomorrow onwards”, said an official of the MeT Department.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Viplav Kumar Choudhry told the Excelsior that the slides and shooting stones that blocked the National Highway in Ramban and Ramsoo area were cleared today. Over 4000 vehicles, including 3000 trucks, that were stranded at several places were cleared.
The IG, however, said that the shooting stones and landslides again blocked the highway at Panthal and Sherbibi at around 7.30 pm forcing the Traffic Police to close the highway. He said that around 400 trucks and some local passenger vehicles are stranded near Panthal and Sherbibi. The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road was also blocked due to land slides near Assar at around 8 pm today. He said if the weather improved the roads will be cleared by tomorrow morning.
All the roads connecting far- flung areas like Karnah, Keran, Machil and Gurez have already been closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall.
Ramban-Gool, Mahore Gool and Mahore-Chasana-Budhal roads are also still closed due to massive land slides at several places. Mahore Gool road is closed due to heavy snowfall at Daggan Top for the last one week.
The upper reaches of Kashmir valley including Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Tanghdar, Sonamarg, Mughal Road, Zojila, Pahalgam received snowfall for the second day. The Divisional Administration has already issued avalanche warning for the hills of Kashmir till Sunday and asked people in the avalanche prone areas not to venture out.
The continuous rains in Kashmir led to increase in the water level in Jhelum and other water bodies and running streams in the hills of Kashmir. The water level at Ram Munshi Bagh was 8.40 feet at 5:00 pm, 4.90 feet at Sangam and 4.50 feet at Asham.
There have been flash floods in some hilly area as the water level in streams has risen alarmingly. For the safety of School Children in the Baramulla district where the water level in streams has led to flash floods, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Yasha Mudgal, has ordered closure of all educational institutions.
“In view of incessant rains, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Yasha Mudgal has ordered closure of all educational institutions including all Government and Private institutions upto Higher Secondary level tomorrow on March 19 in district Baramulla. The order has been issued as a precautionary measure for avoiding any untoward incident,” said an official statement issued by the District Magistrate.
The incessant rains has led to landslides in several areas. At least 27 families were shifted to safer places in Kupwara district after the residents had apprehensions of landslides.
The administration has shifted 15 families in Amroohi, Karnah to a Government schools for their safety as there was threat of landslides in the area. The families were shifted to the safer places after they feared landslides due to incessant rains for last two days.
Twelve families have been shifted to safety in Kalaroos area in the district. Police and local administration shifted to safety 12 families in Chowhan Mohalla in Mori Kalaroos.
The rains for last two days have exposed faulty drainage system in summer capital as several city markets and low lying residential colonies have been waterlogged.
The city markets including Sarai Bala, Hari Singh High Street, Magarmal Bagh and Batamaloo, have been waterlogged and as a result the shopkeepers are facing extreme difficulties. Several shopkeepers said that the rain water has entered their shops.
The streets, lanes and bylanes of low lying residential colonies including in HMT, Rawalpora, Raj Bagh, Bemina, Batamaloo, Lasjan, Kursoo, Barzulla and other uptown areas have been waterlogged and inhabitants of these places said that no arrangement has been made by Srinagar Municipal Corporation for dewatering.
“Either we have to walk by wearing long boots or naked feet because rain water has accumulated in our colony,” said Farooq Ahmad of Iqbal Colony in Rawalpora area. “The rains are still continuing but we have not seen any official of SMC for the purpose of dewatering. There is total mess and there is flood-like situation,” Farooq added.
Claiming that its dewatering pumps are on job across the cities, the SMC spokesperson told Excelsior that their all 80 permanent dewatering stations and 15 portable mobile pumps are in service across the waterlogged areas of the city including vulnerable Hamdaniya Colony, Mahjoor Nagar, Tatto Ground and Padshahi Bagh.
The spokesperson said that 42 other portable pump units are on hold and if need arises they too would be deputed. The spokesperson said that the Corporation in view of inclement weather has drawn a plan and also issued helpline numbers. “People can call us on those numbers by 4 and we would depute our men accordingly. One such number is 0194-2474499,” the spokesperson added.
The rains and snow has resulted in fall in mercury across the Kashmir valley. Srinagar recorded 8.7 degree Celsius maximum and 1.9 degree Celsius minimum temperatures. Gulmarg was the coldest in the day Valley with 0.3 degree Celsius maximum and -1.5 degree celsius minimum.
Meanwhile, two more dead bodies were recovered from Gangroo and Battery Chashma areas of Ramban after the authorities started massive search operation. Two dead bodies were recovered yesterday.
As the rain continued in many areas of the Jammu region even today, a 100 mt long culvert was washed away in massive flood in nallah in Gursai area of Mendhar snapping connectivity to nearly half a dozen villages. Massive hailstorm also caused extensive damage to the crops of the farmers in parts of Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu.
As a large number of passenger vehicles remained stranded in Ramban and Banihal areas, Delta Force soldiers reached out to the passengers and provided them food and shelter in their respective units last night. About 30 families including nearly 100 males, 30 females and 35 children were evacuated and 250 were provides meals, blankets and shelter, officiating defence spokesman S N Acharya said.
Reports from Ramban said that out of the three missing persons in Gangroo landslide accident on Thursday, one more dead body was recovered about one km down stream today. The deceased was identified as Mohd Hussain (49), son of Mohd Waris, resident of Syedpora in Shopian. The bodies of two persons are still untraced.
The dead body of a Tata Sumo driver, who went missing from Battery Chashma area of the Highway late last evening, was recovered from 250 feet deep nallah today. The driver parked his vehicle on the road and went ahead to see the road about 300 mt ahead then there were shooting stones from the hill top and the driver went missing thereafter. It was darkness and others could not see anything. Some other drivers who had parked their vehicle at some distance informed police. Today search operation was launched and the body was recovered at around 11 AM. He was identified as Ayaz Ahmed, son of Abdul Qayoom, resident of Thatharka, Sangaldan (Ramban). His vehicle No. JK19/ 1721 was found lying abandoned. The body was shifted to Ramban hospital.
Reports from Reasi said that Gool-Mahore and Mahore-Sungri-Chasana roads were still blocked. Ramban-Gool road was also still blocked due to heavy land slides near Sangaldan.
In many areas of Poonch and Rajouri heavy rain and hail-storm took places this afternoon. The hail-storm caused extensive damage to the crops. Due to massive flood in a nullah a 100 mt long culvert on Harni-Nad road washed away this afternoon. The link to several villages including Nad, Sanjiot, Nakka Majari, Prat and Morha Kallar has been snapped.
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