Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 12: Three children were washed away and many houses and shops were damaged due to cloudburst in Batote and Kud areas, two villagers feared dead in flooded nallah in Mahore area of Reasi district while heavy rain blocked Batote-Doda- Kishtwar and Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at several places today.
Reports said that it was raining in Ramban, Batote, Patnitop and Kud areas in the afternoon. Suddenly, due to cloudburst in Patnitop area, Chakka Nallah and Baggu Nallah near Batote were flooded. Three children who were returning from school at around 4 pm got trapped in the Nallah and were washed away. The other children following them had miraculous escape. The School children raised an alarm and many people and police rushed there.
The people of the area and police party then launched rescue operation. After long search operation of nearly two and half hours, two dead bodies of the children could be recovered. The deceased were identified as Rakesh Kumar (14), son of Satish Kumar, Payalo Devi (14) , daughter of Raj Kumar and 5 year-old Kalo Devi, daughter of Hans Raj, The dead body of Payalo Devi could not be traced so far. The people told that gushing water along with stones, bushes, logs and rocks flowed down the nallah from the mountain and caused extensive damage to the road and some houses and shops. It caused loud roaring sound and the people ran away for safety in panic. For the moment, they could not realize what has actually happened.
With the rain and clouds burst in the area, land slides blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Nashri and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar Road at Raggi Nallah and Assar. A large number of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highway. The cloud burst also caused havoc in Kud, Mada and Chenani areas. Mud and slush on the road blocked the movement of vehicles.
A senior Traffic Police officer said that while Jammu- Srinagar highway was restored after clearing slides and boulders near Nashri, Baggu Nallah and Kud, the Batote-Kishtwar road was still blocked at Raggi Nallah and Assar. The authorities claimed that road will be restored by tomorrow.
Due to flood on the road near Kud after cloudburst, water entered several shops. The road also got damaged and mud and slush stalled the movement of the vehicles. The highway was however, restored after two hours. At Tamatar Morh several structures have been damaged due to flash flood due to cloud burst.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Shahid Iqbal along with SDM Chenani visited the affected area and supervised the rescue operation. Machinery was pressed into action through IL&FS Chenani-Nashri Tunnel project. Project Director J S Rathore led the road clearance operation. ADC Angrez Singh has been deputed to supervise the relief arrangements required for the affected families and traders.
Reports from Reasi said that rain and cloudburst also caused massive damage in several villages of Mahore Sub Division. The heavy rain continued for about three hours and caused damage to the roads, houses and shops besides other buildings. Over two dozen houses, shops, water mills were damaged.
SHO Mahore said that one Abdul Ghani (45) and his 15 year old, son Irfan were returning from a Gharat carrying head loads (ration). Both went missing while crossing a nallah. They are said to be washed away. The gunny bags of ration were, however, recovered after long search by the locals of the area.
At Saldar, Shajroo, Jamaslan, Kalwa Malas, Gulabgarh and Mokha areas massive damage has been reported. Maximum number of houses have been partially damaged in these areas. SHO said that houses of Des Raj, Nen Singh, Bansi Lal, Mushtaq Ali, Jalal Din, Rekhi Ram, Daulat Ram, Diler Singh, Chet Ram and Naved Singh in these villages have been partially damaged.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Ravinder Kumar said that reports of losses/ damages are still pouring in from various areas of Mahore. He said SDM Mahore has been asked to monitor relief and restoration work. He said that due to heavy rain and land slides, Dharmari-Mahore and Gool road has also been blocked.
Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer Ramban placed seven teachers of Govt Middle School Lidhwal Zone Batote under suspension as they let off the students without bothering for their safety at 4 pm when it was raining heavily. He also ordered an inquiry into the matter. Dy CEO Ramban, Bal Ji Thaploo is the inquiry officer while ZEO Batote Mohd Amin and Headmaster Batote High School, Abdul Rashid are the Committee members. The teachers placed under suspension are – Jasbeer Kour ( Master), Deepak Kumar, Santosh Koul, Shagufta Ara, Devinder Chand, Devinder Chand-II (PRET) and Geeta Devi (ReT). Ajay Kumar PET has been recommended for suspension to DYSS Officer Ramban.
Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh who is also Member Parliament from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda LoK Sabha Constituency, has expressed grave shock over the tragedy in which three children have been killed at Batote. Dr Singh expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and assured assistance from the Government.
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