Admn announces 15 days vacations
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, July 5: Several villages in Zanskar and Kargil area of Ladakh besides Paddar area of Kishtwar have been hit by heavy rain and flash floods during last evening.
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The flash floods have also caused damage to several structures and foot bridges in some villages while another foot bridge on Paddar-Machail track was also washed away due to flash flood in Machail Nallah last evening.
Official sources said that village Khunda in Budgam area of Kargil, Achambur and Stakpa have been affected by the flash floods after a heavy spell of rainfall and damaged standing crops, agricultural lands, houses and roads. Rescue operation at Achambur by UTDRF, district police Kargil along with local people continued till late night and some migrant labourers who got stuck after the flashfloods were rescued by the teams and locals.
The public property also suffered massive damage during flash flood and water entered several houses and fields. The road link and power supply to these villages has also been snapped.
Counselor LAHDC Kargil for Parkachik constituency, Haji Ghulam Muhammad requested UT Administration, LAHDC Kargil and district administration to start immediate restoration works in the village particularly to assess the damages of the property.
Meanwhile, due to sudden rise in temperature the water level in the Suru river rose up above danger level and keeping in view the threat to human life, the SSP Kargil issued immediate instructions to all police personnel to sound an alert in the area.
Due to rise in temperature and rains, the district administration Kargil has announced summer vacations for all Government and private schools in the district for 15 days from July 5. Reports said that Srinagar- Leh National Highway was also closed for traffic due to flashfloods at Kulan in Ganderbal this evening.
Meanwhile, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC, Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan today visited the flood-affected villages of Sankoo Sub Division. During the visit, the CEC assured to convene an emergency meeting with all the concerned district officers, Border Road Organisation and their stakeholders to take necessary action in all flood-affected villages.
The CEC inspected the flood-affected villages of Achambur and Stakpa where he instructed the concerned officers to immediately restore essential services like road, irrigation canals, electricity and drinking water.
Various departments are already on the job at the flood sites with machinery and workforce in order to restore essential services for the people. The CEC instructed the concerned officials to install protection walls in flood-prone areas to mitigate risk in future. Both at Achambur and Stakpa, CEC assured to clean the silt from the stream to avoid any further loss.
It was further informed that projects for Nala Trailing has been already reflected in the SDP for Stakpa, Lankarchay, Khawos and other flood-prone villages.
The CEC further assured to take up the issue of construction of temporary and permanent bridge at Stakpa with the Chief Engineer Project VIJAYAK to restore road connectivity to Umba. He also gave a patient hearing to grievances of the public and assured necessary action.
Report from Kishtwar said that several villages in Paddar Sub Division, bordering Zanskar and Kargil were also hit by heavy rain and flash flood. Another foot bridge on Gulabgarh-Machail track was washed away. Another bridge had also been washed away near Chashoti, a few days ago due to flash flood. With this, Machail Mata pilgrims may face problems.
With heavy rain the water level in Chenab river and other Nallhas falling in the area also increased. The local administration sounded alert in the area and advised people not to venture out closer to the river and other seasonal Nallahs. The weather however improved in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, MeT official today forecast more “intermittent” light to moderate rain at many places in Kashmir during next 24 hours.
Overnight rains lashed Kashmir, bringing respite to the people of Kashmir from intense hot weather conditions.
“Light to moderate rain occurred at many places in Jammu and Kashmir this morning and it is still raining lightly,” a Meteorological Department official said here.
Intermittent light to moderate rain, he said, was likely to continue at many places of J&K during next 24 hrs.
“There’s already lots of water in local streams, rivers etc. due to melting of glaciers etc. Addition of rain water in these streams often generate flash flood, mudslide etc,” he said.
“People are advised to remain cautious and avoid venturing near such places which are vulnerable to flash flood etc,” the MeT official said.
He said Srinagar received 8.2 mm overnight rain mostly since early morning, while Qazigund had 4.8mm, Pahalgam 11 mm, Kupwara 0.3 mm, Kokernag 1.2 mm, Gulmarg 7.6 mm, Jammu 1.1 mm, Banihal 1.0mm, Batote 0.4 mm and Bhaderwah 0.6 mm.
He said Srinagar recorded a low of 20.8°C against 24.0°C the previous night. However, the temperature was around 3.1°C above normal during this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a low of 20.7°C against 21.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 4.6°C above normal.
In Pahalgam, the minimum temperature settled at 15.6°C against 18.6°C, 3.8°C above normal, while Kokernag recorded a low of 19.5°C which was against 19.9°C last night and it was 3.8°C above normal for the place.
Gulmarg resort recorded a low of 13.0°C against 14.8°C and it was 1.2°C above normal, while Kupwara town saw a low of 22.5°C, 6.4°C higher than usual for this time of the season.
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