Gopal Sharma
POONCH, Aug 10: Goods worth crores were damaged and some washed away in flash flood in a Nullah near cross LoC Trade Centre, Chakkan-da-Bagh in district Poonch last evening.
Reports said due to massive rain and suspected cloudburst in upper reaches on that side of the LoC, the flood water of Rangarh Nullah breached protection bund and boundary wall of the LoC Trade Centre at around 5 pm on Friday and the flood water entered all the godowns/ stores and many rooms causing extensive damage to the Government and private properties. A car of the staff member was also washed away besides some parts of full body scanner kept in a room.
The water level was more than four feet and the police men and other security staff and guards mounded on the roof top and saved their lives. Some of their belongings were also washed away in the flood.
Since there is no communication system these days, the SDRF team could not be called from Poonch town. The local villagers rushed for their rescue. They saved some of the belongings and boxes containing clothes. Even their rifles were also damaged and one of them was washed away. After long search, the missing gun was spotted. Even the road was badly damaged due to flood.
Trade Facilitation Officer, Farid Ahmed Kohli said flash flood in the Rangarh Nullah broke the compound wall of the Trade Centre at around 5 pm on Friday. It caused extensive damage to the property and other goods. Even full body scanner parts kept in the store for installation has been damaged. The estimated loss could be around Rs 15-20 crore. However, a team will be deputed to assess the actual damage. He said the Trade Centre needed urgent protection work, which was over looked.
A security man Mohd Azim said that they had requested the Flood Control authorities Poonch to execute urgent protection work along the Nullah. Even DC Poonch was approached but only false assurance was given and the rainy season also started after few months. This has happened due to negligence on the part of Flood Control Department and DC Poonch, he alleged.
One Haji Mohd Sharief said that they rushed to the Trade Centre on the calls of security men who had climbed on the root top of the building and trapped there. When the water level reduced, then they were able to start rescue work. He said weapons, beds, clothes and steel boxes of jawans were washed away along with purses containing money and their I-cards. One missing gun was traced after long search. He said this has happened due to negligence on the part of FC department Poonch. The State administration must hold inquiry into the matter, he added.
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