Jammu-Sgr-Leh NH blocked; road washed away at Ramban, 32 rescued from Ujh
Second soldier’s body too recovered in Surankote
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 9: Three persons were killed as landslides and boulders hit a bus in Gandoh area of Doda and a car in Kargil area today, the dead body of second missing soldier was recovered from a stream in Poonch today while Jammu- Srinagar National Highway continued to remain blocked for the third consecutive day as major portion of the road was washed away due to massive flood in river Chenab near Ramban.
Mighty Chenab was flowing above danger mark since early morning today due to heavy rain in the higher reaches and opening of flood gates by Dul Hasti Dam and Salal Dam authorities near Kishtwar. As the flood water in Chenab started nearly touching old bridge at Pul Doda, the authorities closed the bridge and stopped movement of traffic or on-foot movement of people over it.
Click here to watch video
At Akhnoor, the water level in Chenab was 35.4 ft at around 8.30 pm on Sunday which is 4 inch above the danger mark. The authorities have sounded red alert in all the low lying areas of Akhnoor, including Jourian, Indri Pattan, Pargwal and Khour. The flood gates of the dams said to have been opened over Chenab and with this the water level has also increased. In Ramban area the water level of Chenab increased about 4-5 meters. The flood water washed away about 60-70 meters of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Official sources said that it happened during morning. Already major portion of road near Tunnel T-5 (Panthyal) has caved in yesterday and now at Seri-Chamba major portion of the highway was badly damaged by flooded river Chenab. The National Highway authorities are trying to make passage at the height by digging new alignment. It may take at least next two days for this task, they said.
The sources further said that for the last three days, the highway is closed and over 5000 vehicles have been stranded at different places in Jammu, Nagrota, Domail, Udhampur, Dhar Road, Samba-Mansar, Chenani, Kud, Nashri, Banihal, Qazigund, Pampore and Srinagar. There is no hope of highway clearance even tomorrow, the sources added.
Reports from Doda said that two persons were killed and two others injured when a passenger bus (JK02/8287) was trapped in the landslide near Gandoh. It was on way to Thathri from Gawari and as it reached at Bangru village, about 2 kms short of Gandoh, bus was trapped in a sudden landslide from the mountain. The passengers jumped away and came under the debris. While two were saved in injured conditions but two were killed on the spot.
They were identified as Mudassir Hussain, son of Nissar Ahmed Qazi, resident of Neeli Gowari and Amir Sohail, son of Abdul Qayoom, resident of Drouth Kahra. The seriously injured was identified as Shahid Hussain from Hasti in Kishtwar while another one sustained minor injuries and was discharged after first- aid at Gandoh hospital. The bus was later pulled out of the debris by clearing slide with the help of a JCB. A bridge was damaged at Khellani Nallah on Batote-Kishtwar road due to flash flood, snapping road link, the sources added.
Another report from Kargil said that a tragic incident took place at village Pandras near Dras in district Kargil where a big boulder fell on a truck and a car, resulting in the death of one person. The incident took place on Srinagar-Leh highway.
A police official said that the driver of Maruti car, Mohd Qazim, son of Mohd Ibrahim, resident of Minjee, Kargil was found dead in the car. No one was injured in the truck as they all three had miraculous escape.
Meanwhile, dead body of another swept away soldier in a stream in Poshana area of Surankote in district Poonch was recovered today. One body was recovered last evening. Reports said during domination patrol, a soldier (L/Nk) Telu Ram was swept away while crossing a stream. JCO ( Naib Subedar) Kuldip Singh resident of Taran Taran in Punjab tried to save him but he too was washed away in the flooded stream near Poshana in Surankote. An operation was launched by Army, Police and SDRF to trace them and today second body was also recovered from the down stream. Telu Ram hails from Khurali in Hoshiarpur district.
Reports from Udhampur said that a foot- bridge at Jakhed in Dudu Sub Division was washed away due to massive flood in river Tawi this morning. At least four kucha houses were also damaged due to rain in the area while three water mills (Gharats) were also washed away. It rained heavily in the area during morning hours. With this, Panchount village and nearly half a dozen hamlets have been cut off from Latti and Dudu towns.
With the washing away of Muthu bund at Salmay due to Tawi flood the water channel supplying water to Udhampur town has also been damaged. It may affect the water supply for couple of days to the town.
Reports from Kathua said that about 50 persons were trapped in flooded Ujh, and Tarnah river Rajbagh, Kathua and Hiranagar areas. 36 persons were rescued from Ujh river by SDRF and police while others from Tarnah in Hiranagar area by using boats. Five persons were rescued from Haria Chak and 16 from Dabowal. SSP Kathua Shivdev Singh and ADC Deepika Rana coordinated the operation and rescued the trapped people in flood. A portion of Ujh barrage has also been damaged due to flood. Standing crops of the farmers have also been damaged as flood water entered many fields.
Meanwhile, unseasonal snowfall and heavy rains lashed wide parts of Ladakh, prompting the Meteorological department to issue a red alert for the region, officials said.
The rains also triggered landslides on the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar National Highway at Lamayuru, forcing the closure of the strategic highway, they said.
Officials said the high-altitude passes in both Leh and Kargil districts experienced unseasonal snowfall overnight after two days of rainfall.
Rangdum village in Kargil witnessed nearly three inches of snowfall, while other areas, including Pensi La, Zanskar and the hills surrounding Kargil, were also covered by a snow blanket, they said.
The traffic on the Kargil-Zanskar road was suspended as a precautionary measure, they said.
After the landslide at Lamayuru, the main Leh-Kargil highway was closed for traffic and an operation is underway to clear the debris to make the road traffic worthy, officials said.
The weatherman has predicted the continuation of rain and snowfall till this afternoon or evening besides issuing a “red colour warning” for the region for the next 24 hours.
“There has been widespread moderate to heavy rain and snowfall over the higher reaches of Ladakh. People are advised to remain vigilant and avoid slide-prone areas,” a spokesperson of the Meteorological department said.
He did not rule out the possibility of flash floods in view of the significant rise in the water level in rivers and streams.
However, the weatherman predicted mainly dry weather with isolated rainfall at scattered places from July 10 to 14.
Reports from Srinagar said that with the improvement in weather after two days of rainfall that caused floods at various places, the water level in Jhelum and its tributaries receded today.
The incessant and intermittent rains at various places in Kashmir led to flooding across Kashmir with Jhelum flowing above alert mark. However, with improvement in weather the water level started receding today and it was flowing at 19.09 ft in Sangam (21’/25′), 5.25 meters at Pampore (4.5/5.0m), 19.17ft at Ram Munshi Bagh (18’/21′), 13.05 ft at Asham (14’/16.5′), 1577.23 m at Wullar (1578.0m). The Vishow Nallah at Khudwani (8.5m) was flowing at 5.96 mtrs, Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi (5.7m) at 1.92 meters, Doodhganga Nallah at Barzulla (3.8m) at 1.43 meters and Sindh Nallah at Doderhama (3.9m) was at 2.23 meters.
A Meteorological official said that the overall improvement in weather is expected from July 10. He said that light rain may occur at isolated places in Kashmir. It said the weather will remain mainly dry from July 11-15.
The day and night temperatures in Kashmir witnessed a nose dive, while Srinagar witnessed a 13-year low of maximum 19.2°C yesterday. The previous lowest recorded day temperature was witnessed on July 22, 2010 at 18.0°C.
“Srinagar received rainfall of 1.0 mm, Qazigund 31.8mm, Pahalgam 17.4mm, Kupwara 0.0mm, Kokernag 34.0mm and Gulmarg 3.0mm.
Srinagar recorded a low of 14.9 °C, which was 2.8°C below normal for the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of 14.0 °C, which was 2.1°C below the normal of 17.7°C for the town.
Pahalgam had a low of 9.6 °C, and it was below normal by 2.2°C for the tourist resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 14.8 °C, while Kokernag recorded a low of 13.1°C, which was 1.3°C and 2.6°C below normal for both places, respectively.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 8.5 °C, which was 3.3°C below normal for the skiing resort.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
