Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 2: At least 33 persons trapped in the flash flood in river Ujh near Rajbagh and Kotpunnu and two other in Naj at Billawar were rescued by Air Force helicopter, Army and police men while over 1000 passengers had miraculous escape after a train got trapped as a portion of the track was washed away and damaged in Samba area while at least 100 houses were fully and partially damaged in the region due to massive rain and land slides, resulting into one death and injuries to nearly half a dozen persons in Kathua and Samba districts since last night.
Heavy rain in the region since last mid night caused extensive damage to the public property and also threw normal life out of gear. Most of the rivers including Ujh, Ravi and Chenab were over-flooded and caused damage to the standing crop with land erosion. The flood water also entered into the fields in many low lying areas of Kathua and Hiranagar bordering Punjab.
Nearly 100 ft long fencing near Balarh border post, adjoining pillar No. 49, along Indo-Pak border in Ramgarh area of Samba was also damaged due to flood in seasonal nallahs. It also caused minor damage to a nearby BSF post. Traffic on old Samba -Kathua road also remained affected due to flood in nallahs while Babbar nallah near Rajpura in Ghagwal, created havoc and the vehicles remained stranded for over four hours today. The traffic on Samba-Sumb road also remained paralysed.
At least 25 families from Indira Colony near Barian were rescued and removed to Hanuman temple near Vijaypur this afternoon after their houses got damaged and water entered their kutcha and semi-pacca houses. Tehsildar Samba and SHO reached the spot and supervised the rescue operation. At Sapwal in Samba water entered many houses resulting into protest by the villagers.
Ujh river was flowing above danger mark and recorded the highest flood (1.5 lakh cusecs of water) of this season today. Flood in Ravi, Tarnah also caused damage to the crops and the farmers’ land while Chenab was flowing near danger mark, forcing Flood control authorities to sound alert in the low lying villages. All the 21 gates on Ujh barrage were opened by Ravi Tawi Canal authorities observing massive flood. A bund at the bank of river Ujh in Ghati area was breached and the water entered into the fields, causing damage to crop. Nearly half a dozen PHE pumping stations along river Ujh have also been damaged due to flood today.
SSP Kathua Mohan Lal said that at least 33 persons who were trapped in swollen Ujh river at Mahi Chak, Sumoa, Pandori and Kot Punnu area were rescued by the IAF helicopter this evening. He said most of them belonged to Gujjar families. He said these men remained struggling for life and trapped for over 8-9 hours. The District Administration Kathua requested the IAF authorities at Jammu which started operation at around 5 pm and rescued all the 33 trapped persons to the safer places. A total of 18 trapped persons were rescued from Mahi Chak, 13 from Kot Punnu and two from Pandori by using MI-17 Helicopter. He said nearly 100 cattle are reported to have washed away during flood in river Ujh today.
SDM Billawar said that two youth in the age group of 20 were trapped in river Naz near Billawar this morning. They had gone there at the river along with cattle. They were rescued after four hours tough efforts by Police and CRPF men by using ropes. They were identified as David and Chotu of Billawar. In land slides at Kough village, five houses were damaged. The villagers however, ran to safety.
Due to massive rain since last night there are reports of nearly 50 houses having collapsed including fully or partially. One Prem Nath (60), son of Chatru Ram, resident of Sabbal village in Ramkote was killed after a tree fell on him. It was raining heavily and he was moving along the road. He died on the spot. Due to rain, Basohli-Bani and Billawar- Katli roads were also closed since last night.
Over 1000 passengers of Haridwar-Jammu train (Hemkund) had miraculous escape when the front wheels of the engine of this train derailed near Samba area. The train was approaching towards river Basantar. There is sharp curve and the train was in slow speed. It was at around 4.10 am, some portion of the track was damaged due to heavy rain. The front wheels of engine of the train got derailed and got trapped. However, it stopped and all the bogies remained intact on the track. All the passengers were safe.
SSP Railways Jammu Shiv Kumar Sharma told the Excelsior that he himself rushed to the site after coming to know about the mishap. An Accidental Relief Train (ART) arrived from Pathankote and it cleared the track after six hours operation. Several trains on the either side were made to halt due to accident. He said Malwa Express was stopped at Vijaypur, Superfast, Ahmedabad Express and DMU at Bari Brahmana and Jammu. Several incoming trains like Jhelum, Jammu Mail, Pooja Express and Rajdhani also arrived late.
In Jammu also rain and flash flood in nallahs, created massive damage. The traffic on the roads was affected and rain water entered in many houses in Digiana, Gangyal, Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar, Channi Himmat and low lying areas of Borhi Talab Tilloo. It also damaged roads at several places. In Kathua town also, rain water caused damage to the public property at Shiv Nagar, Patel Nagar and several other localities. A flood protection wall in Ganesh Vihar area of Muthi also collapsed due to flood in a nallah.
Another report from Basohli said that 33 KV line was broken near Jandrali as a tower fell down due to rain and minor land slide. Entire power supply to Boond and Bani-Loang area has been snapped. Executive Engineer PDD Kathua, Karam Chand, said that power would be restored by tomorrow afternoon if the weather remained clear.
The rain also hit the life in parts of Rajouri, Udhampur, Reasi and Katra. Chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi remained suspended for several hours today again.
A check dam at Aamli village near Talote in Samba got breached and the water entered in the houses of people and also their fields, causing extensive damage today. At Bari Brahmana residents of Ward No. 1 held protest demonstration and tried to block highway after rain water from flooded drains entered their houses today. Nearly dozen families were affected. The police however, dispersed the agitating people within 10 minutes. Similar reports have been received from Bishnah, R S Pura and Akhnoor today.
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