Flash flood in Kargil damages vehicles, rain plunges Valley into darkness

A car trapped in mud after flash flood in Kargil on Wednesday. -Excelsior/Basharat Ladakhi
A car trapped in mud after flash flood in Kargil on Wednesday. -Excelsior/Basharat Ladakhi

Traffic suspended on NH for 8 hrs

Gopal Sharma/
Fayaz Bukhari

JAMMU/SRINAGAR, July 27: The traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended for about eight hours today after landslides in Ramban while flash flood in Kargil damaged several vehicles as Reasi-Mahore -Chassana road was blocked due to mudslides/ landslides at several places after heavy rain in the area.
Reports from Ramban said that Jammu-Srinagar highway was blocked after massive landslide at Mehar near Ramban bridge at around 5.15 in the morning. It was raining heavily in the area. With this, the movement of vehicles on busy highway came to halt. Shri Amarnath yatra was also disrupted and made to halt at Chanderkote camp.
The National Highway authorities pressed two machines into service and the road could be cleared at around 1.45 pm. Thereafter, the movement of up convoy was restored. Yatra was cleared at first instance.
Meanwhile, due to heavy rain and flash flood in Hamorie Nallah in Paddar area, a wooden bridge on Machail Mata Yatra track was washed away today. Flash flood was also reported in Dachhan area of Kishtwar, where some Agriculture land of the people and two local water mills were damaged.
Reports from Reasi said that due to heavy rain, flash flood in several Nallahs and landslides, Reasi- Mahore and Mahore-Chassana roads were blocked. The R&B authorities pressed machines to clear the road but road was still closed till late this evening. Many vehicles were stranded on the road.
In Kargil town, due to flash flood in a Nallah after heavy rain about 4-5 vehicles and three houses were partially damaged this afternoon. The flood water entered many houses and caused damage to the household goods of the people in Baroo area of Kagril town.
The flash flood also caused extensive damage to the agriculture land and lanes in the locality. Later, the administration led by senior officers and CEC members pressed JCBs to clear the debris and repair damaged road and lanes. No loss of life has been reported.
Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed parts of Kashmir leading to flooding in certain areas including roads in Srinagar city while two persons were injured and over a dozen houses were damaged today.
Two youth were injured, around over dozen residential houses and a wooden bridge got damaged after a heavy rainfall today lashed parts of Kashmir. The heavy rainfall led to the disruption of electricity in several areas including Srinagar city.
The heavy rains also lead to overflowing of the drains in Srinagar city leading to flooding of roads.
Heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to around one dozen residential houses in Rampora area of Chattabal.
“During the rainfall, the rooftop of our residential houses got damaged and the water entered into our houses,” the residents said.
The heavy rainfall started this evening and the reports were received from different areas that the branches of many trees fell during the rains and windy weather conditions.
Two persons were injured after a branch of Chinar tree fell on the vehicle they were travelling in near Bemina Degree college here. The duo was taken to hospital for treatment.
A cloudburst triggered flash floods in Chakwali village of Tulail area of Gurez in Bandipora district. The cloudburst occurred around 3 pm in Chakwali forest area, resulting in flash floods.
The flash floods led to overflow in a nearby stream during which a bridge got damaged.
There has been no major damage to property or loss of life. Restoration measures have been initiated by the concerned departments.
The incessant rainfall also damaged the electric poles and caused damage to the power infrastructure at many places due to which the electricity was snapped in many parts of Srinagar and areas of Kashmir.
Chief Engineer, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Bashir Ahmad Khan said that the electricity has been restored in many areas while at some areas the men and machinery has been pressed to complete the restoration process, which would take around two hours.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Sonum Lotus said that the cloudy weather conditions would continue in coming days and added that there is possibility of more rains for next 24 hours.