3 killed in Kashmir as rain leads to flash floods

Achthal village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was disconnected due to flash floods in Nalla Veshow on Wednesday. —Excelsior/Sajjad Dar
Achthal village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district was disconnected due to flash floods in Nalla Veshow on Wednesday. —Excelsior/Sajjad Dar

60 houses damaged in windstorm in Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, June 12: The incessant rains that continued for more than 10 hours last night across Kashmir caused flash floods in the Valley and the hills had fresh snowfall, leading to death of 3 persons including 2 women while at least 60 houses were damaged in windstorm in Poonch, Rajouri and Doda areas of Jammu region.
Heavy rain during last night brought massive relief to the people of Jammu from severe hot conditions as the temperature had gone closer to 45 degrees Celsius. The sky was cloudy over Jammu during this evening while light rain was expected tonight.
While the bad weather continued today in Kashmir, Weatherman said that there will be a respite from Thursday afternoon.
In Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, a 37-year-old man was killed and two of his relatives were seriously injured last night after a tree fell on their makeshift tent due to strong winds and rains in Gund area.
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In Bandipora, two women died after a tree fell on a residential house on Tuesday at Chandaji village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. The incident occurred during incessant rains and thunderstorms. The deceased were identified as Shareefa Begum and Mubeena Bano, both residents of Chandaji village.
In another incident in Bandipora, 4 persons including two brothers and their mother were injured after a bolt of lightning struck at Naidkhai area of Sumbal in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district today.

Residential house damaged in windstorm in Doda.  —Excelsior/Rafi Choudhary
Residential house damaged in windstorm in Doda.
—Excelsior/Rafi Choudhary

Reports said that the lightning struck at Naidkhai this afternoon when a group of people was busy in planting paddy saplings in Naidkhai.
In the incident, four persons suffered injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital where from they were referred to JVC hospital Bemina Srinagar for specialized treatment. The injured were identified as Irfan Rashid Wani, Javid Rashid Wani, Masarat Begum and Tahir Begum of Poshwari, Naidkhai.
In North Kashmir’s Tangmarg area, a bridge was damaged during the intervening night of June 11-12. The bridge, locals said, connects 14 villages of Tangmarg including Chanderhama, Check Changel, Wanigam, Kulhama, Darhama, Buderkote, Ringawari, Gogaldore, Darakashi, Mushikhur, Zandpal and Ganiwani with the National Highway. Locals said that there is no alternative to reach the National Highway in case of an emergency.
Moreover, the flashfloods were also caused in Pattan, Hanjewara, Khasipora, Trikolbal, Kunzer, Bungam, Karhama and Khore Sherabad in North Kashmir as well.
In South Kashmir, the flashfloods were caused in Gundipora, Koel and Ratnipora. Locals in south Kashmir said that the incessant rains have caused damage to the paddy fields.
The upper reaches of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, including the tourist resort of Sonamarg, Gumri Zojila Pass, Shaitani Nallah, Panj Tarni, Zero Point, Minimarg and Drass- Kargil received fresh snowfall on Wednesday.
With rains, the water level in the Jhelum river is also said to be increasing, with the water level crossing ‘alarm mark’ of 18-ft in south Kashmir’s Sangam gauge at 2 pm today.
At Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, the water at 2 p.m. was 13.44 ft against the alarm level of 16 ft and the flood level of 19 feet. At Asham in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, the level was at 8.76 ft, almost 6-ft when flood alarm is sounded.
Jammu recorded a sharp fall of nearly 8 degrees Celsius in temperature while the Mughal Road and other higher reaches in Doda-Bhaderwah and Kishtwar besides Poonch received Light snowfall. Over night rainfall brought big relief for the people of Jammu from heat wave.
The wind storm created havoc in Mandi area of Poonch, parts of Rajouri besides Doda-Bhaderwah- Gandoh and Kishtwar areas. At least 60 houses including three Govt schools buildings were damaged. A woman, Shakila Begum, wife of Mohd Ishaq and her girl child were also injured in the house collapse. In lightning at Dethped in Chatroo area of Kishtwar, 18 sheep/ goats of a nomad Ghulam Hussain, son of Ghulam Rasool of Drubbel village were killed.
At Thanna Mandi town, two shops of Mohd Shafi Khan were totally damaged in flash flood. At least a dozen houses were partially damaged in the area due to heavy rain. Residential house of one Sher Chand resident of Mulwana Jagir / Gundna in Doda was damaged last night due to windstorm. The district Administration ordered closure of schools in Doda today due to bad weather and rain. Over two dozen houses were damaged in Bhaderwah, Gandoh and Doda areas, the official sources said.
Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed due to land slides at four places between Ramban and Banihal last night. It was however, restored at around 11 am today. The Mughal Road was also Closed due to snowfall and landslides last night. The road was cleared in the afternoon.

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