MeT forecasts heavy rain in next 48 hrs
Cloudburst washes away road in Chatroo
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 23: Two persons were killed and an equal number injured in two separate rain-related incidents in Reasi and Kathua districts early today, Kishtwar-Kokernag-Anantnag road was damaged due to cloudburst in Chatroo area while Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain in most of the places across Jammu and Kashmir during next 48 hours.
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Reports from Kathua said that due to heavy rain during morning hours, flash flood in Nallahs disrupted movement of traffic for several hours at various places in Kathua area. A Honda City car bearing registration number JK08J-7197, washed away in Nallah while it was crossing flooded culvert near Dream Land Park in Kathua at around 8.30 am today.
The eyewitnesses said that the driver tried his best to control the vehicle by turning above side but the mighty flood water washed away the car and it got trapped in the deep water downside the culvert. Immediately after the incident, SDRF men and local police rushed to the spot and launched rescue operation. The driver got trapped in the vehicle as car landed into the deep water just closer to culver on downside with front portion of the car nose-dived. With the help of a crane, the vehicle was pulled out of the flooded Nallah.
The rescue team shifted the driver to GMC hospital where he was declared as brought dead. He was later identified as Ravi Kumar Sharma, son of Ganpat Sharma, and bother of National Conference District president Ajeet Sharma, resident of Ward No. 1, Kathua.
A wave of shock spread in Kathua over the news of death of Ravi Sharma, younger brother of NC president, belonging to a renowned business family of Kathua town.
Another report from Reasi said that Mohd Shahbaz, a resident of Jamslan village of Mahore, lost his life, and two others were injured when their truck came under a landslide/ boulders triggered by rains near Malai Nallah on Reasi- Mahore road in the district during early hours today.
The incident occurred around 2.30 am when the truck was passing through the troubled area near Malai Nallah, always creating trouble during rains for the road users in the Sub Division. Locals along with police immediately rushed to the spot and shifted three injured to Mahore hospital.
Doctors later referred the two critically injured to District Hospital Reasi, but one of them succumbed to injuries on the way.
The deceased has been identified as Mohd Shahbaz (20), son of Bashir Ahmed, resident of Jamslan, Mahore. The injured have been identified as Mohd Hussain, hailing from Kansoli in Mahore and Abdul Ghani, son of Gulzar, resident of Manjikote, Chassana.
The body of the deceased after conducting postmortem and performing other legal formalities were handed over to the family for last rites.
Reports from Kishtwar said that a cloudburst amidst heavy rain struck an open and non- residential area between Chatroo and Sinthon Top in Kishtwar district during morning hours. It caused damage to the road, while muck/ debris spread all over the road, snapping the road link between Kishtwar and Kokernag in Kashmir.
A GREF official said some portion of the road has been damaged with it. Many vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road. The highway is expected to be restored by tomorrow, he added.
Meanwhile, a MeT official has predicted heavy rain in many places over Anantnag, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Kathua and Jammu with possibility of cloudbursts/ flash floods and landslides in Jammu region besides water logging in low lying areas of the plains, and rise of water level in rivers and local Nallahs, during next 48 hours till August 25.
In view of this, SDMA has advised the people to stay away from the water bodies, rivers/nallahs and also keep their vehicles away from such flooded rivers/ Nallahs. The authorities have asked the public not to cross when the Nallahs are swollen. They advised to avoid unnecessary travel, especially towards hilly/ landslide -prone or the flood-prone areas.
Meanwhile, due to flash flood in several Nallahs in Samba area the movement of vehicles on Samba- Mansar-Udhampur road was disrupted for about an hour during morning hours. An official said that some culverts in Nud area were over flowing with flash food amidst rain. They disrupted movement of traffic for more than 45-50 minutes today. Later, the traffic was resumed with decrease in water level.
Reports from Akhnoor said that several Nallahs were overflowing with flash flood during the day in Jourian, Khour and Kaleeth areas today. Several vehicles remained stranded on the roads for several hours till the water level receded. It was raining heavily in Khour and Akhnoor Sub Divisions today.
Due to bad weather and rain, the chopper service to Katra Mata Vaishnodevi also remained suspended today. However, the pilgrimage continued through the old route.
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