Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 18: Heavy rains lashed Kashmir valley while hills experienced fresh snowfall today leading to flash floods in several areas and suspension of traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Heavy rains continued in North Kashmir for second consecutive day today leading to flash floods in several areas but with the improvement in weather the water level receded by evening.
Reports reaching here said that 3 houses in Kawwadi Watpora in Handwara area and 14 houses at Hanjishat Langate in Handwara area of Kupwara district were damage by heavy rains that caused landslides.
Reports said that at Doodi Mohalla in Golipora Rajwar area of Kupwara district one house was damaged due to landslides while entire village of Haihama in the district is facing threat due to landslides in Sangri mountains.
The Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Itrat Hussain Rafique, told Excelsior that one house was completely damaged in Golipora village of the district and inmates had close shave with death due to landslides in the villages. He said that livestock of the family, however, perished.
The DC said that three villages of Hanjishat, Braripora, Kawwari in Handwara area of the district were inundated due to flash floods in Pohuru river caused by heavy rains today. He said that around 10 feet water had accumulated in these villages but the water level receded in the evening after rains stopped at around 2 p.m.
Rafique said that there was heavy snowfall in Machhil, Keran, Karna and Z gali areas of the district. He said that heavy snowfall blocked the Tangdar road and it will take BRO three days to restore traffic on it.
Reports from Baramulla district of North Kashmir said that six families were shifted by authorities from Jalshari village, 22 from Boniyar village of the district after rains triggered landslides.
Five houses were damaged in Bandi Lagama in Uri area of the district and entire village of Dudran Boniyar in Uri is under threat due to slides caused by heavy rains. Five houses were also damaged in Hillar Boniyar in Uri due to landslides.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Farooq Ahmad Lone, told Excelsior that heavy rains caused slides in Dacchi and Trikajan areas of Uri and residents have been shifted to safer places.
Lone said that from Jalshri, Faqir Wani and Veerwan villages of the district, 30 families have been shifted to safer places and Army has provided tents to 8 families in the area.
Lone said that people have been moved to safer places wherefrom the district administration received complaints. “We have taken steps and all complaints were addressed”, Lone added.
“We are assessing the loss caused by heavy snowfall and rains for which Government has kept Rs 40 lakhs at our disposal. “We have provided immediate requirements to the needy out of Red Cross funds”, he added.
Reports said that flash floods were reported from several areas of Pulwama and Budgam district causing damage to mustard.
Heavy rains along the National Highway also caused slides at several places leading to the closure of the Highway in the morning.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that traffic on the National Highway was restored after remaining suspended for several hours due to landslides and shooting stones, triggered by heavy rains.
The IGP said that heavy rains triggered landslides at Penthal, Digdol and Batrey Cheshma. The biggest one was at Penthal which took the BRO several hours to clear it.
Khan said that traffic on the highway was restored at 11 a.m. today. “So far 6000 vehicles crossed into Kashmir valley”, he added. He said that traffic will be allowed to move from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow.
The heavy rains also washed away a portion of Rail track between Qazigund and Banihal in South Kashmir while another portion was inundated. The Rail services between Qazigund to Banihal was suspended this morning.
However, services from Baramulla in North Kashmir to Qazigund in South Kashmir via Srinagar, Badgam, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam were running smoothly.
“A portion of track between Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region was washed away while some other portion was under water. It was decided to suspend the rail run as a precautionary measure”, a railway official said.
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