Flood furry continues to wreak havoc
Rains lash Valley in fifth day
5 Dariya News (Yawar Shafi )
Srinagar 06-Sep-2014
Flood fury continued to inflict crushing losses to property and human lives in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday while incessant rains continues to lash the state resulting in the disruption of normal life.In Jammu region, 11 more deaths were reported on Saturday, including seven in two house collapse incidents in Udhampur district.Seven people were killed and a woman was seriouslyinjured in two separate incidents of house collapse due to landslidetriggered by heavy rains in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Confirming the deaths, Deputy Inspector General Udhampur-Reasi range, Gareeb Das told CNS that Seven people died and one woman was critically injured in two incidents of house collapse in Udhampur district. He said that five members were killed and two went missing when a house collapsed in Rakha Jaganoo area.DIG added that two children died and their mother was critically injured when their house collapsed in Rakh batla belt in Udhampur.At least 11 Army personnel from 50 RR including an officer were washed away in Sambora Pampore area of Pulwama district when during a rescue operation River Jhelum embankment breached near Karnabal Pampore. An official told CNS that all efforts are on to trace the washed away soldiers.
An Army official said that a column of Army operating at Kakapora of Pulwama District itself came under floods. While moving on a boat to place of safety, the boat carrying 11 personnel capsized and they got stranded. A helicopter based rescue mission was launched to rescue the stranded personnel, however, bad weather prevented execution of the mission and finally boats were used to reach. Two soldiers were still stranded in the area.In view of the incessant rains in Kashmir and increase in water level in river Jhelum and other rivers and water bodies, the government Saturday issued fresh warning to the people living in the vicinity of these rivers to immediately shift to the safer areas. “This is necessary for the safety of lives in view of the prevailing flood situation,” an official spokesman said.
In South Kashmir flood furry continued to wreak havoc as more villages came under water. People in worst hit areas cried for help but nobody from the government came forward for their rescue. At least 35 houses submerged into water at Gulbugh Ratnipora in Pulwama district while people mostly children inside them cried for help whole day. Local population came to the rescue for the children who were evacuated and shifted to safer places. Hundreds of houses came under water while dozens of them collapsed in Gooripora, Awantipora, Sail, Chersoo, Donigund, Beig Gund, Padgampora, Batagund, Bargam, Nawdal, Chandrigam, Aaligund and Arpal. 13 houses constructed under IAYS were collapsed at Beighgund Tral in South Kashmir while dozens of houses also suffered damages at Aripal Tral. Chandrigam bridge connecting scores of village with Tral was washed away due to speedy water currents.
At least 22 houses collapsed in Sambora, Patalbagh, Haqiwara and Galandar areas of Pampore town when there was sudden breach in the Jehlum embankment. The concrete house of CNS Reporter for Pulwama Mushtaq-ul-Islam also collapsed due to strong water currents. People spent their day in open air. Most of the affected people according to reports have created ordinary sheds at saffron land. They alleged that administration made no arrangements for them. A police official who wished not to be named told CNS that no boats are available with the police as a result they are unable to reach out to the affected people.The power supply in South Kashmir districts is snapped while communication network is lost.
Reports said that scores of villages in Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts are still submerged in water while people are spending their days and nights in safe buildings. The Wuranhal and Gur area in Khanabal Anantnag were submerged on Saturday after the floods swept the area.Due to cloud burst in Bata Kalan area of Ganderbal district, the water level of Nallah Sindh increased considerably prompting authorities to shift all the people residing on the embankments on Nallah Sindh in Sonamarag to safer places. In the same locality, there was breech in dam while the gushing water flooded the fields damaging the paddy crop. Administration shifted the people to nearby forests. In Kangan area various bridges were washed away in Rawadi Gund, Satru and Tanga Chhatar. The people who were shifted to safer places alleged that administration did not make any arrangements for them.
Adjoining areas in tourist resort Sonamarag including Washansar received 2 feet snowfall. Hundreds of livestock were killed in the same area while number of villages including Akhal, Chervan, Binibagh submerged into water. The footbridge at Iceland park near Sonamarag collapsed due to increasing water level in Nallah Sindh.Chaos and confusion continued to prevail in different areas of Srinagar city where flood threat is still looming. Hundreds of residents of Mehjoor Nagar and adjoining areas were seen keeping strict vigil over the water level at Padshahibagh while the areas like Bemina, Lasjan, Pandhreten, Pantachowk were still submerged in water.
The 300-km Jammu-Srinagar Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for third consecutive day Saturday due to landslides at various places. More than 1000 vehicles were stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu highway while Border Roads Organisation (BRO) men lot of difficulties in clearing the road due to incessant rains.In Kupwara and Uri, the Sun was out for the whole day while authorities were on job to restore the connective in Uri where a bridge was washed away on Friday.Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus told CNS that weather would improve from tomorrow (Sunday) onwards. “Jammu and Kashmir will have clear weather for the next one week,” he said. Due to flood furry, power and water supply has been severely affected in various areas of Kashmir.
Reports said that all across Kashmir including Baramulla, Pattan, Sopore, Tangmarag, Budgam residential houses, school buildings and masjids have suffered damages while paddy crops have been destroyed due to flash floods.The rescue operations from civil and police administration including Army continued in affected areas while Army said that due to inclement weather it was unable to press choppers into service. Reports said that whole population of Padgampora Pulwama had taken shelter in a masjid waiting for the help from the army and administration.
In North Kashmir’s Tangmarag areas floods wreak havoc by claiming the lives of hundreds of animals and destroying paddy crops. Eyewitnesses told CNS that dozens of villages in Tangmarag including Ganipora, Kasaimohalla, Hajibal, Lalpora, Mamoos, Kulhuma, Shrai, Terekpora, Karhom, Kharpora, Raitenpora, Bongam, Chanpora, Devpora, Dardpora and Tumbarhom have been submerged in water and scores of house have been damaged. (CNS)