NH blocked, restored
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 8: At least four persons including a doctor were killed and a Tipper and JCB machine were washed away while Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked after landslides as heavy rain wreaked havoc during early hours today.
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The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked in Ramban and Chenani areas between 1 and 2 am last night due to land, mudslides, disrupting movement of vehicles on this busy highway. Shri Amarnath Yatra was also disrupted for some time and was halted at Chanderkote few hours. However, the highway was restored at around 9.30 am and the movement of Yatra was allowed towards Kashmir first, followed by other vehicles.
Reports from Rajouri said that due to heavy rain in the upper reaches of Darhal and Thannamandi during early hours today, massive flash flood was witnessed in the Nallahs. A JCB Machine and a Tipper parked near a stone crusher at Aitti Bhalla, near Rajouri were washed away in the flooded Darhali Nallah. Two persons (driver and helper) were also washed away in the flood along with Tipper.
-Excelsior/Waseem
Later, locals of the area, police and Army launched search operation along the Nallah and recovered dead body of the helper. He was identified as Ibrar Ahmed, son of Jamal Din, resident of Sokar village in Kotranka (Kandi) tehsil of district Rajouri.
The search operation for the second person (driver) namely, Sajjad, son of Mohd Aslam Lohar, resident of Sokar village in Kandi continued till late this evening, but his body could not be traced, police said.
The Tipper and JCB machine were also extensively damaged and later got trapped in the big boulders in the Nallah about 200-300 meters downstream.
The house of BJP SC Morcha leader, Dr Garu Sanehi was partially damaged due to landslide at Durga Nagar, near Jawahar Nagar area of Rajouri today. The road leading to his house and adjoining locality was totally damaged in the incident.
Due to massive flood in Rajouri river and Darhali Nallah water in several houses and shops entered Kheora Industrial area. The public property suffered damage due to flood water. Massive traffic jam was also caused after the water entered the low lying areas in the town.
Meanwhile, 55- year-old Abdul Karim, son Aka Mir, resident of village Bandi Kama in Mandi tehsil of Poonch district was buried alive after his Kucha house was extensively damaged in landslide during last night. It was raining heavily in the area when the incident took place. He was alone in the house when the incident took place.
Later, tehsil administration Mandi and police reached the spot during morning and with the help of villagers removed his body from the debris. An immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 was provided to the family.
Another Kucha house of one Tasadduq Hussain, son of Dahit Ullah collapsed near Surankote in district Poonch this morning in which his three goats were killed and house hold items damaged. The family members, however, escaped unhurt. The family was provided immediate assistance by the Tehsil administration after the request of Sarpanch Tahir Manzoor and other prominent locals.
Another report from Ramban area said that a doctor posted in Mahore hospital was killed after his car slipped into a deep Nallah during heavy rain in Sangaldan area of Gool this morning. The doctor namely Muzaffar Ahmed Wani, son of Mohd Yousuf Wani , hailing from Mandhole, Kulgam in Kashmir was posted at CHC Mahore. He was returning home on Eid from his place of posting this morning. On slippery road, his car No. JK02AW/1801, went out of control and rolled down into a Nallah near Sangaldan, about 22 kms from Ramban. He died on the spot and his body was later shifted to Sangaldan hospital by police.
Reports from Udhampur said that highway was blocked between Udhampur and Chenani at two places due to land and mud-slides during early morning hours on Friday. However, the road was cleared after about 4-5 hours. In view of ongoing Shri Amarnath yatra, the JCB machines have been kept stand by at various sliding zones by the NH authorities. Traffic on Udhampur -Pancheri Road was also suspended for several hours due to flood in Chobu Nallah in the morning.
Similarly, the highway between Chanderkote and Banihal was blocked at 6-7 places due to landslides after heavy rain in the area in early hours today. The highway remained blocked for about 8 hours and later traffic was restored at around 9.30 am.
In Jammu area also heavy rain flooded roads and nallahs during morning. The water entered many houses and caused damage to the public property. The waterlogging in some city areas affected smooth movement of traffic. The water level in several nallahs and Chenab river also increased. The water level in Chenab at Akhnoor around 1 pm today was 29 ft while in the evening around 7 pm, nearly 26. 2 ft, an official of Flood Control department said.
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