2 Army jawans swept away in Poonch
Road caves in near Panthyal tunnel
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, July 8: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked due to landslides in Ramban since early morning today following heavy rains while two Army jawans were washed away in flooded Nallah in Surankote area of district Poonch.
Official sources said that over 3000 vehicles have been stranded at different places including Jammu, Srinagar, Nagrota, Katra- Domail, Dhar Road, Udhampur Bypass, Chenani, Nashri, Kud, Chanderkote, Ramban, Banihal and Qazigund. Besides convoy of vehicles carrying about 5000 pilgrims was also stranded at Chanderkote.
Project Director of National Highway Authority of India (NHIA), Ramban-Udhampur Sector, P K Phonsa said that there was heavy rain since early morning in entire Ramban and Banihal areas and with this highway at 3-4 places was blocked. Massive damage to the highway was caused between Tunnel T-3 and T-5 in Panthyal area where about 30-40 meters road has caved in. The landslides at Sherbibi near Banihal also blocked road for several hours.
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Phonsa said after this old Panthyal route was opened by clearing bounders but shooting stones hampered the road clearance operation. But in the afternoon some local stranded vehicles were cleared there but again it was blocked. He said Dalwas area was also blocked due to mudslides and it was later cleared. It was dangerous for movement of vehicles.
As usual, Mehar and Cafeteria Morh area near Ramban is most problematic these days. Frequent land and mud-slides due to continuous rain blocked the road for long. This patch was also cleared in the afternoon. But due to falling of bounders frequently at Panthyal, the movement of traffic, specially passenger vehicles was not allowed. The road was still blocked.
Reports from Poonch said that two Army jawans were washed away in a Nallah near Poshana in Surankote area of Poonch district this afternoon. It was raining heavily in the upper reaches and the jawans were crossing Nallah at around 3.30 pm at Poshana. Suddenly, the water level started rising and the soldiers were washed away in the Nallah. Some people noticed them washing away and raised an alarm.
They were later identified as Naib Subedar Kuldeep Raj and Sepoy Telu Ram. Later, Army, SDRF and Police teams launched joint search operation. The dead body of one of the missing soldiers in flood was retrieved. The search for the second one was still going on, reports said.
Meanwhile, five shops along with 550 bags of cement and other items, were totally damaged due to landslide at Chakrara in Mandi area of Poonch today. The shops belonged to Hafizulla Khan and Khalil Ahmed. Cracks have developed on the road, land and in many houses in Kainth area of Sawjina in Mandi tehsil of Poonch. The Administration has directed people to vacate their houses. 26 sheep and 17 goats of Sultan Mohd, Mushtaq and Ghulam Mohd were killed due to lightning and flood in Nurpur hamlet of Mandi in Poonch.
Rain continued in most of the parts of Jammu region and several link roads have been closed. The rivers and Nallahs were swollen due to flash flood while Chenab was flowing near alert mark. At Akhnoor the water level was over 29 ft this evening while it was nearly 23.4 ft during morning at around 10 am. The chopper service at Katra Mata Vaishnodevi remained suspended throughout the day today due to bad weather. However, battery car service operated normally.
With the rain in Jammu area, there has been sharp fall in temperature. In the afternoon weather improved but again in the late evening the rain started. The waterlogging was witnessed at several low lying areas on the roads but there was no report of any major loss.
In Doda, Kishtwar areas also the intermittent rain continued but the road from operational. At Akramabad in Doda, a car was stuck in the mud slide and it was later pulled out with the help of a JCB.
The MeT official has predicted rain during next 24 hours across Jammu region, and rain at isolated places on July 10 and 11. The weather will show some improvement from July 12, he added.
Jammu has witnessed nearly 9 degree fall in day temperature from normal due to heavy rain. Jammu recorded 26.8 degree C day temperature which is 9.1 degree C below the normal temperature of 35.9 degree C. Batote recorded a maximum temperature of 18.2 degree C, Katra 24.6 deg C while Bhaderwah 19.0 degree C which is 12 degree below normal today.
Reports from Srinagar said that Amid incessant and intermittent rains in Kashmir for the last 24 hours, the water level has crossed the flood alert mark in river Jhelum and its tributaries, creating panic among the residents.
There was heavy rainfall in Kashmir in the last 24 hours leading to rising water level in Jhelum and its tributaries.
In Pahalgam, 73.3 mm rainfall was recorded in 24 hours, which is the highest-ever 24 hour precipitation in the month of July so far. The previous highest was 60.4 mm, which was recorded on July 16, 1983.
Qazigund has recorded 94.0 mm rainfall while Kokernag and Gulmarg also recorded second highest 24 hour precipitation at 76.3 mm and 42.4 mm respectively.
The rainfall that started on Friday evening has increased the water in the river Jhelum and other tributaries. The water was flowing above the flood alert mark at 10:00 pm.
At Sangam, the water till 10:00 pm has risen to 21.55 ft, which is nearly one ft above the flood alert mark and 4 ft below the flood declaration mark.
In Pampore, water has increased to 4.86 ft, which is above the flood alert mark. The flood declaration mark in Sangam and Pampore is 25 ft and 5 ft respectively.
At Ram Munshi Bagh, the water was flowing below the alert mark as it has risen to 17.49 ft while the alert mark is 18 ft. At Asham, it was flowing near 11 ft, which is 3 ft below the flood alert mark.
The water level has however, receded in nallah Vishow at Khudwani as it was flowing below the flood declaration mark when the report was last filed. The water level in Rambiyara, Doodhganga and Sindh was flowing below the flood declaration mark.
However, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC) department has stated that the situation is being monitored and there was no need to panic.
They issued advisory in every district and the staff has been asked to remain on night patrolling.
“In view of forecast of heavy rains predicted by the Meteorological Department from 08-07-2023 to 09-07-2023 all the Flood Zonal Committees are directed to remain alert in their respective jurisdictions and monitor the situation closely,” the circular read.
It added that the committees will keep the flood fighting machinery in readiness for their immediate mobilization in the event of any flood like situation.
Director Meteorological department, Sonum Lotus said that the intermittent light to moderate rain and shower are likely to likely occur at most places of Jammu and Kashmir with possibility of heavy to very heavy showers at isolated places of the Union Territory.
He added that snowfall is also expected over higher reaches.
On July 09, he said there is a possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain and showers at many places of J&K with possibility of heavy showers at isolated places of Jammu region as well.
From July 10-14, Lotus said that as per the forecast, the weather conditions would improve from July 10 but light rain or thunderstorms at isolated places can’t be ruled out.
He added that with the possibility of more rains, there is a risk of flash floods, landslides and mudslides at vulnerable spots and lower catchment areas.
Asking people to stay alert, Lotus said that the temporary disruption of surface transportation over Srinagar-Jammu NH, Mughal Road, Srinagar-Leh NH and other major hilly roads can also be witnessed during the period
Lotus advised people to stay indoors during thunder and lightning and avoid venturing near fast flowing water bodies.
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Rapid Force (SDRF) is on high alert and has prepared Quick Response Team (QRT) teams and boats for immediate emergency action.
“We are fully prepared for any potential flood situation as the water level in the River Jhelum is expected to exceed the flood mark. We have boats, QRT teams, and other necessary equipment ready for action,” said officials.
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