2 bridges washed away, houses collapse
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 9: A cloudburst triggered flash flood in Thathri town of Doda district this morning, causing minor damage to several vehicles and a few structures.
Official sources said that cloudburst occurred at around 4 am in nearby Gunti forest area, uphill Thathri belt, resulting in heavy flash flood during morning hours.
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Most of the people were sleeping at that time and it was raining heavily with thunderstorm. Then suddenly amidst thundering sounds, cloudburst took place and it resulted into massive flash flood, which caused damage to the main Batote-Kishtwar highway and adjoining lanes in the town. Several walls and structures of the people also suffered damages. About a dozen vehicles/ cars of the people sustained minor damage. But no loss of life was reported.
About a dozen vehicles were trapped in 2-3 ft mud and slush in the town in the main market. Many people woke up with the sound of flash flood and ran for the safety in panic during the incident. The police and Army men from the nearby unit also reached the spot.
At around 7.30 am, the JCBs were pressed into service and the road was restored at around 9.30 am. The trapped vehicles were also removed from the debris and mud spread all over in the market and main road. However, no casualty has been reported in the incident. Some agriculture land and crops of the villagers have suffered damage, the reports said.
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Vikas Sharma said that incident took place at around 4 am. The cloudburst took place in nearby Gunti forest at Thathri which resulted into flash flood. He said the intensity of flash flood was low and no loss of life or any major loss to the property was reported. Some vehicles were trapped in the mud-slush and suffered minor damage but were dragged out by the JCBs. The Doda-Kishtwar highway was damaged but it was later restored by the authorities.
SSP Doda Abdul Qayoom said some vehicles were stuck and the highway was blocked for about five hours but it was restored after 9 am. He said he himself and DDC Doda reached Thathri town and took stock of the damages occurred due to cloudburst and flash flood.
All the line departments were directed to ensure service delivery of essential commodities to the locals including safe drinking water.
Meanwhile, reports from Reasi said that a Kucha house of one Roshan Din collapsed at Balmatkote in Chassana area of Mahore Sub Division today. Another house of one Lal Singh at Sakri village in Mahore also collapsed. However, no loss of life has been reported in these two incidents.
With bad weather and rain, the chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine from base camp of Katra also remained suspended today while yatra on new track was stopped due to possibility of landslides amidst rain.
Reports from Mendhar said that due to incessant rains, normal life in the area has been badly hit. The heavy rain in Mendhar sub-division of Poonch district late night has shown its formidable form, in which there are many such remote rural areas whose contact has been lost.
Officials sources said that the flood water in Salwah village of Mendhar completely washed away the road and a small bridge. Salwah Sarpanch Shaukat Choudhary said that last night all the small and big drains and the Nallas were over flooded with rain water and caused damage to the local bridge.
In Jugal and Chhatral villages, a bridge over local river was completely washed away, while the connectivity to the area with its surroundings was also snapped. The villagers had to face tough time as the flood water entered several shops and houses. In Mendhar market also water entered shops and caused damage to the goods.
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