3 rescued; Jeep, villager washed away in flood

* New bridge over Balol develops cracks

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: Three persons were rescued by the villagers while their Bolero vehicle (Jeep) washed away in flood-hit nallah near Sumb in district Samba this morning, a villager was washed away in Rajouri and at least thirteen houses were collapsed in Kathua and Reasi areas during rain and landslides while Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which was closed due to landslides early today was re-opened to traffic this afternoon.
The traffic on busy Jammu-Pathankote National Highway was stopped and later diverted to old Balol bridge at Kalu Chak, after the newly constructed bridge by the National Highway authorities developed cracks today. Due to heavy rain, the flood caused extensive damage to the basement around the pillars in the middle of the nallah. The piller No. 4 of the bridge constructed hardly 6-7 months back, started sinking down. Two major cracks have been developed in the bridge and nearly 5-6 inch portion has gone down.
The senior officials from the NH authorities including Director R P Singh visited and the traffic was stopped and then diverted to the old bridge which was also closed for repairs. However, for emergency purpose it has been opened.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pardeep Gupta, told the Excelsior that immediately after the report came, the traffic was stopped as it was risky to use this bridge after developing cracks. The traffic on emergency basis has been diverted to old bridge and the National Highway authorities Director has been asked to initiate an inquiry and fix responsibility on the agency involved in the construction. He said the CE R&B Jammu and NH Authorities’ engineers would conduct joint inspection of the bridge tomorrow.
The traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed due to landslides at Seri, Seri Chamba and at Maroog early today. A large number of vehicles remained stranded on the both sides of the Highway for hours together. The traffic was restored at around 2 pm today. The vehicular traffic on Dhar- Mahanpur road in Kathua also remained disrupted while Basohli- Bani road has also been closed due to landslides. Several link roads in Udhampur, Kathua, Mahore and Rajouri have been closed due to rain and landslides.
At village Hadad near Mahanpur in Basohli, five houses were collapsed due to landslides. The families were shifted to Panchyat Ghar. Tehsildar Basohli and police team visited the site and they provided free ration to the victims. Three families from this area had been shifted to Karanwarda village, hardly few days back. A culvert gave way near Hiranagar causing disruption in movement of traffic while rain water entered many houses in Hiranagar and Kathua towns today.
A report from Samba said that a Bolero vehicle bearing registration No. JK21-A/518 which was on way to Goran Baba from Samba, got trapped in the sandy nalla at Talot near Sumb.  Due to flash flood in the nallah, three persons got trapped in the vehicle. As the water level started rising, they cried for the help. The villagers then using ropes rescued all the three. The vehicle however, got washed away in the flooded nallah. Those rescued were identified as Dwarika Nath, Baba Braham Dutt and Monu, residents of Samba.
A report from Reasi said that two houses belonging to Chuni Lal and Sobha Ram collapsed at village Thakrakot and another belonging to Abdul Rashid, son of  Ghulam Mohammed at Mahore due to heavy rain today. The goods at the shop of one Bansi Lal at Saar Bagga in Mahore were damaged after rain water and mud from nearby land sliding zone entered the shop and a nearby house today.
Another report said that one Anwar Shah, son of Wali Shah, resident of  Khankhri near Thandi Kassi in Rajouri was washed away when he was crossing a nallah. His body was later recovered by the villagers in the evening.
A report from Poonch said that five houses collapsed due to flood in a nalla at Khanetar village of Surankote. It said due to breach in a bund the water entered the village causing damage to at least half a dozen houses. The people lodged protest against the concerned authorities.
Meanwhile, chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi cave shrine remained suspended for the 5th consecutive day today due to bad weather while a pilgrim was injured due to landslide on way to Bhawan. A police spokesman said that chopper service to shrine which was suspended on August 18 could not be resumed due to bad weather and risky conditions.

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