323 houses perish in Mahore, 88 families rescued
*NH still blocked at Thrad, being restored today
*Woman dies as boulder falls, man’s body found in river
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 5: While the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continued to be blocked near Udhampur, a Government High School building, a vital bridge connecting Dudu Sub Division with Chenani and Latti and three houses collapsed in a massive landslide, whereas, more than 323 houses perished in Mahore including 88 in Jamslan area of the Sub Division in Reasi district where the land is sinking for the last three days.
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A woman was killed while her husband seriously injured after they were hit by a boulder while travelling on a bike near Kalai bridge in Poonch this evening while the dead body of a washed away man in flood was recovered from Rajouri river near Saranoo today.
As the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continued to be closed, Project Director, NHAI Udhampur-Ramban Sector, Shubam Yadav said that entire stretch of this National Highway from Banihal up to Thrad near Bali Nalla in Udhampur has been cleared. The highway on the other side, right from Jammu upto Thrad is also clear at present. But this nearly 250 mt stretch has turned headache for us. He said there is need to blast 2-3 big boulders and semi-concrete layer of stones and gravel etc is being laid as there is mud and slush along this patch.
“We have engaged at least 11 machines at this spot. Our men are working till late night. During early hours these boulders will be blasted. We are hopeful to restore highway at least for light motor vehicles by Saturday evening. All types of vehicles will be allowed for one way movement from Sunday,” the Project Director added.
Reports said a massive landslide struck Latti area of Dudu Sub Division in Udhampur district late Wednesday night around 11 PM, causing widespread devastation. There was no communication link to the area and the immediate assistance could not be provided from the district headquarters as the area has been totally cut since Tuesday last.
The Govt High School Latti (Gharat), a two storey building was completely damaged while the main bridge connecting Chenani-Latti-Dudu-Basantgarh was washed away in the slide. The main road in the area has also suffered heavy damage, cutting off vital connectivity.
In addition, three residential houses of Madan Lal and his two sons – Ashok and Pritam were also completely perished with the slide. Two shops in the area, closer to the bridge also suffered massive damage. At least 40 goats/sheep and two cows of these families were also killed in the tragedy. However, locals managed to save their lives in time, preventing any major casualties. The overall loss is being estimated in crores of rupees.
Tehsildar Latti Ashok Kumar, Naib Tehsildar Kuldeep Kumar, DySP Sajjad and SHO Narinder Singh along with Sarpanch Latti- Kasturi Lal Gupta were the first who rushed to the spot and with the help of locals and policemen launched mid-night rescue operation.
The local police and villagers during morning with the help of locals and two JCBs managed to save some belongings of the people. A major portion of the road has also been damaged. At present the communication to the entire Dudu-Basatngarh has been snapped. At least 25 houses completely and nearly 200 partially are said to have been damaged in Latti tehsil during recent rains.
The calamity also left the entire area without electricity and internet services, adding to the hardship of the affected people.
Meanwhile, SDM Mahore, Shafqat Majeed Bhat, told the Excelsior that a total of 323 houses have been fully or partially damaged in Sub Division Mahore due to the incessant rainfall over the past few days.
He said that 88 families have been shifted to safer locations till date from the Jamslan and Sarh and were relocated to Panchayat Ghars and other shelters.
The SDM further stated that all necessary arrangements including medical facilities, food and other essentials have been ensured for the affected families.
Reports from Majalta said that at least 15 houses collapsed in Soundar village and five at Sail near Mansar due to rains. The SHO Majalta revealed that all the affected people have been shifted to the safer locations.
Reports from Rajouri said that body of a washed away villager was found floating in the river in Saranoo area of Kalakote in Rajouri district today.
On receiving the information, police teams immediately rushed to the spot to retrieve the body. SDPO Kalakote, Surinder Mohan, along with his team reached the location and shifted the body to hospital. It was believed that he was washed away in some Nallah and the body reached the river.
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Reports from Poonch said that a woman was killed and her husband seriously injured when a boulder/shooting stone hit their two- wheeler at Kalai near a stone-crusher in Poonch.
Official sources said that they both were returning after attending a funeral at Madana to their village. Both with serious injuries were shifted to Poonch hospital.
Medical Superintendent DH Poonch, Dr Shafiq said that the woman was in coma and was put on ventilator and shifted to GMC Rajouri. But later she succumbed on the way.
The deceased was identified as Fozia Tabassum. Her husband Nazakat Hussain, resident of Seri Khawaha, at present Gulpur was undergoing treatment at Poonch.
Meanwhile, a series of landslides and land sinking incidents have hit different parts of Rajouri district, causing damage to property and disrupting movement on vital roads.
In Badhaal-B Panchayat of Khawas Tehsil, a massive sinking of land has been reported, resulting in the sinking of a portion of the Kotranka-Khawas road, which plunged to the lower side. A multi-storey house belonging to a retired Armyman in the area also suffered damage, with fears of further sinking looming.
—Excelsior/K Kumar
In another incident, a landslide at Muradpur struck the site of new shop constructions along the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch National Highway, leading to the closure of a stretch of the highway and causing disruption in vehicular movement.
Meanwhile, in Mankote village of Rajouri, a Maruti Brezza vehicle got stuck in a landslide-hit portion in front of a residential house. Local villagers, with the help of a crane, successfully retrieved the vehicle, preventing major loss. However, a portion of the adjoining house collapsed due to the landslide.
—Excelsior/Ramesh Mengi
Reports have also emerged of land sinking in village Ninganar (Ward No. 6) of Panchayat Palullian, where a double-storey residential house belonging to Mohammad Rehman, son of Mohd Younis, has come under threat. The sinking of land in the surrounding fields has triggered fear among the locals.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the fourth consecutive day on Friday due to multiple landslides and washing away of road patches.
However, the inter-regional Mughal Road, connecting Jammu region’s Poonch district with Kashmir’s Shopian district, was reopened for vehicular traffic after three days of closure.
“The Jammu-Srinagar highway and Sinthan Road are closed for vehicular movement due to landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones at several places,” a senior Traffic Police officer said.
The highway remained closed due to multiple blockades since August 26 following torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides, but was reopened for traffic for a few hours on August 30. In total, the highway has been closed for ten days.
The closure of highways and other inter-regional roads to Kashmir has resulted in over 4000 vehicles getting stuck at various places from Kathua to Kashmir.
Mughal Road, which was closed for four days, was reopened for traffic, and LMVs including passenger and private cars have been allowed from both sides on the Mughal Road from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice versa via Poonch, they said.
However, HMVs carrying essential commodities, limited to six-tyre trucks only, are being allowed from Poonch towards Shopian, they said.
Meanwhile, the pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Reasi district remained suspended for the 11th consecutive day on Friday.
The yatra was suspended after a landslide on August 26 claimed 35 lives and left 20 others injured. Though the weather has improved significantly with the sun shining brightly after ten days of heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides, the authorities are yet to take a call on resuming the yatra.
“Yatra is still suspended. This is due to the decision taken by authorities last week, keeping in view the safety of pilgrims,” an official said.
The decision to resume the yatra will be taken at an appropriate time after assessing all aspects, the official added.
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