4 houses damaged in K’war, 2 rescued in Kathua
Landslide blocks new track of Mata Vaishnodevi
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 26: Three persons, including two children were washed away while four others were rescued as flash floods triggered by cloudbursts and heavy rains were reported from different areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar and Kathua districts, whereas, four houses were damaged in flash flood in Marwah area of Kishtwar today.
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The landslide from the Trikuta hills of Mata Vaishnodevi, blocked the new track of the shrine during the day today while chopper service from the base camp Katra to shrine remained suspended for several hours due to bad weather on Thursday.
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Reports from Rajouri said that Shafqat Ali (14) and his cousin, Safeena Kousar (11), were washed away due to flash flood in a Nallah at Mohu hamlet of Sialsui village in Kalakote Sub-Division of Rajouri district.
Saima (10), who was also trapped in the flash flood, was rescued by local people and shifted to a hospital.
The children were grazing their cattle when they were swept away by the flash flood due to a cloudburst, an official said, adding that the bodies were retrieved and handed over to the relatives of the children for the last rites.
Soon after receiving information about the tragedy, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma immediately deputed a team of officers led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Kalakote to visit the site. The team comprised Tehsildar Kalakote, Naib Tehsildar and police personnel, who rushed to the location to assess the situation, extend necessary assistance, and take stock of the circumstances.
The Deputy Commissioner has appealed to the general public, especially in rural and hilly areas, to exercise extreme caution during the ongoing monsoon season, particularly around water bodies.
Another report said that the body of Basharat Hussain (32), a resident of Dunadi village in Doda, was fished out by a rescue team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from the Lopa stream in Doda. He had washed away in the Nallah due to flash flood while bathing.
Reports from Kathua said that Baldev Raj (35) and Sushil Kumar (25) were rescued by the SDRF team and police from flooded Ujh river, near Jarmal village in Nagri area of Kathua today.
They said the men had gone for fishing and got trapped due to a sudden rise in the water level following heavy rains in its higher reaches. The officials said the SDRF also rescued a person from a stream in Poonch.
Flash floods due to cloudbursts were also reported from Qazi Morh in Poonch and different high-altitude areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur and Ramban districts, but there was no report of any casualty.
Meanwhile, the administration in various districts, including Rajouri and Doda, have imposed a complete ban on swimming, bathing, fishing and roaming near rivers, nallahs, waterfalls, and also prohibited school picnics.
Advisories have been issued asking citizens to stay alert and follow precautionary measures amid likely flood situations this rainy season, the officials said.
The Weatherman has forecast intermittent spells of light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places, with the possibility of heavy rain at a few places of Jammu division till Friday.
Reports from Reasi said that a fresh landslide triggered by rains blocked the new track to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in the Reasi district.
However, the pilgrimage is progressing smoothly through the old route, while both battery car and helicopter services remained suspended.
They said the landslide occurred near Satya view point along the Himkoti route at a time when the Shrine Board had already diverted the pilgrimage to the old route owing to incessant rains and lurking threat of landslides on the new track.
A landslide also hit the track leading to Bhairav temple, disrupting the movement of pilgrims, the officials said.
They said the agencies concerned have deployed their men and machines to clear the debris on both the tracks.
Reports from Doda said that flash flood after cloud burst in Pranu area of Bhaderwah, caused damage to several vehicles and bikes besides some structures during morning hours. Three bikes, a Bolero vehicle and two cars were badly trapped in the mud. These vehicles were later removed from the debris with the help of machines.
SDM Marwah, Dr Mohd Ashraf said that with the flash foods after cloudburst in Ranai area of the Sub Division, four houses, four water mills and four cattle- sheds were damaged. However, no loss of life has been reported. He said that parties have been deputed to the affected area.
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