NH blocked after landslides near Ramban
*Many houses damaged, power supply snapped
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 28: Heavy rain, hail and wind-storm created havoc in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi and parts of Jammu region while Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked after landslides near Ramban late this evening.
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Strong windstorm damaged scores of houses in Kandi-Budhal and parts of Darhal and Mahore area while power infrastructure also suffered damages, causing suspension of electric supply to many areas. It was raining heavily in Ramban and Banihal sector late this evening and reports of some more landslides were received from there tonight.
Official sources said that heavy rain and flood in Thannamandi and Upper Darhal area during the day today besides hailstorm caused much damage to the maize and paddy crop. Even the young fruit trees also suffered heavy damage. Due to windstorm, the tin roof tops of many houses were uprooted in Thannamandi, Kandi and Budhal areas. Many poles and electric transformers were also damaged and the power supply was badly hit. Flood water in parts of Rajouri and Thannamandi caused damage to paddy crop as water entered many fields.
Reports from Ramban said that heavy rain started across the district including Banihal belt after 6 pm. The landslides at Morh Ghori near Ramban, blocked busy Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at around 7 pm. A large number of vehicles were stranded on both sides. As the intensity of rain gradually increased, the landslides at 2-3 more places caused blockades in the sector. The restoration work could not be launched till late this evening due to constant rain, the sources added.
Reports received from Poonch said that during thunder-storm the lightning struck the house of Master Abdul Ghani at Behramgalla in Surankote area late this evening. His 9-year -old daughter Aufaq Akhtar who was stranding in the ‘Veranda’ of the house was killed on the spot. Three other children of the family standing nearby were injured and removed to Surankote Hospital.
The injured children are identified as Ifta Ghani (5), son of Master Abdul Ghani; Muskan (10), daughter of Javed Iqbal and Atija (9) daughter of Mushtaq Ahmed, residents of Behramgalla. The injured were initially taken to Chandimarh PHC and then referred to Sub District Hospital, Surankote.
The rain and thunderstorm also caused damage in Chassana, Mahore and Arnas area of Reasi besides other parts of Rajouri and hilly areas of Jammu. The crops and fruit trees suffered damages due to it. Further details from this belt were awaited.
In many plain areas of Jammu , the rain and windstorm started after 7 pm. With rain, the temperature experienced sharp fall. The people of the winter capital heaved a sigh of relief from the hot weather conditions. The winds were blowing with the speed of 30-35 kms per hour in the evening. The power supply to most of the localities in Jammu city was snapped thereafter and it could not be restored till late this evening. The rain was also reported from Kathua, Udhampur and Doda belt of the region late in the evening.
A MeT spokesman said that it was pre-Monsoon shower in the region this evening. He said the Monsoon would hit the J&K within a day or two. It has already hit the NCR region.
Meanwhile, reports from Srinagar said that weather turned pleasant in Kashmir today much to the delight of the people, with the light to heavy rain during the day. The relief to the people in the Valley comes just a day after the Srinagar city recorded the hottest day of the season so far at 32.9 degree Celsius.
The Weatherman said that rain and thundershower across Kashmir occurred due to Western Disturbances. He said lightning and gutsy winds with the speed of 30-40 kms per hour would occur at many places in next 12 hours as well. The rain has brought down the temperature at many places specially Gulmarg, Pahalgam and other important places in Kashmir.
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