One person was killed in flash floods triggered by multiple cloudbursts on Monday night and today in north Kashmir’s Tanghdar area. The floods also caused damage to a local power project and washed away a bahak (makeshift house). The number of people putting up there has not been yet confirmed by officials.While clearing the debris on roads and the nearby localities, a body was found in Tanghdar, officials said. Station House Officer (SHO), Tanghdar Nissar Ahmad Bhat confirmed to GNS that the so far one body has been found.He identified the deceased as Sheer Singh son of Sardar Singh of RS Pora Jammu. He was the driver of an oil tanker meant for army supply.As reported earlier, multiple cloudbursts struck at Shamsbari mountain amid the heavy rains in the region which triggered flash floods in several villages of Tanghdar at around 2:30 pm.The affected villages include Nachayian, Hajinad, Bagh Baila, Gumul and Tanghdar.During the flash floods, scores of shops, two army oil tanker vehicles along with many oil barrels were washed away.A behak (makeshift house for summers) near the Shamsbari mountain was also washed away. It was not immediately ascertained whether there was any human loss or not.
The flash floods also entered the army camp, residential houses and in schools.A canal of a local power project at Pingla Hari Dawal was also damaged in a separate incident due to flash floods followed by cloudbursts Monday night.Besides, the flash floods also damaged paddy fields in most of the Tanghdar villages.Soon after the incident, a rescue operation was immediately launched by police, army and district administration who started evacuating the people trapped in these areas to safer places.Local reports said that over a dozen persons suffered injuries and have been hospitalised. However, so far there was no official confirmation with regard to the injury or any human loss.Meanwhile, in view of cloudburst at Shamswari ridge in the district Kupwara, Secretary Disaster Management, Farooq Ahmed Shah today directed District Administration Kupwara to ensure the safety of the local population and if necessary, the affected population along with their movable property be evacuated to safer locations.Accordingly, District Commissioner Kupwara has issued an alert and directed SDM Karnah, Police, SDRF and Volunteers to provide necessary help to the affected people.Army has also been asked to provide support to the civil administration. (GNS)