NH closed, 52 rescued from Mughal Road, Pulwama
Crops suffer heavy losses, power supply hit
Gopal Sharma/Irfan Tramboo
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Heavy rain, untimely snowfall in many hilly areas across J&K and hail-storm in Jammu region wreaked havoc, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and several other link roads were blocked while, three persons were killed in Pulwama due to wall collapse whereas, over a dozen trapped persons in heavy snow on Mughal Road were rescued by Army and police authorities in Poonch area today.
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The power supply to Jammu city and many rural and semi-urban areas across the region remained affected for 8 to 12 hours while chopper service to holy Shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi in Katra also remained suspended throughout the day due to rain and bad weather.
-Excelsior/Rakesh
A very rare scene was witnessed in Jammu city during mid day today as thick black clouds were hovering over the Temple City at around 12 noon, depicting nearly night view. Many vehicles and two- wheelers were seen moving on the roads with their head lights on. It was nearly complete darkness due to thick black clouds, amidst heavy rain and hail-storm. The Temple City and most of the border areas of Jammu including Akhnoor, Pargwal, Gajansoo-Marh, RS Pura, Bishnah; Ramgarh, Nandpur in Samba besides Hiranagar and Marheen belt witnessed hailstorm twice during the day today, causing extensive damage to the paddy and other vegetable crops.
Reports of massive hailstorm have also been received from Katra, Reasi, Pancheri, Landhar, Udhampur, Ramnagar, Chenani, Dudu-Latti, Basantgarh, parts of Bhaderwah areas as well, where fruit-trees have suffered damages.
Official sources said that traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway came to halt at around 3 am, today and it remained blocked till late this evening. The landslides and mud-slides took place at many places between Nashri-Ramban and Banihal since last night. At many places the passenger and other vehicles were trapped. By 8 pm late this evening, over 150 stranded vehicles were cleared and allowed to move to the safer places by the NH and Traffic Police authorities. However, no fresh movement of vehicles from Qazigund, Banihal side or Udhampur-Jammu side was allowed. The road at Mehar and Cafeteria Morh area besides Panthyal, Maroog and Battery Chashma areas was still giving trouble and authorities were taking all possible precautions. Over 1500 vehicles said to have been stranded along with highway, sources added.
A senior Traffic Police official said that since it was still raining in Ramban sector late this evening, the boulders continued to fall frequently all along the highway in this belt. There was risk to the lives of the road users under such circumstances, therefore, no movement of vehicles during night will be allowed. The traffic is likely to be restored on this highway tomorrow morning after reviewing the situation, the official added.
Reports from Poonch said that heavy snowfall took place in Pir Ki Gali and Poshana area of Mughal Road and at least 12 persons, trapped in heavy snow were rescued by Army and Police this evening. They were removed to a security force camp and provided immediate assistance at Behramgalla. Over two dozen vehicles were said to be trapped in Pir Ki Gali area and machines were deployed to clear the road.
Reports from Reasi said that Mahore road which was blocked since morning was restored in the evening around 5.30 pm but Mahore-Sungri-Budhal and Mahore-Gulabgarh and Mahore-Gool roads were still closed.
Chopper service from Katra base camp to Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine and Battery car from Adh Kunwari to Bhawan remained suspended due to heavy rain and bad weather today. It may be resumed tomorrow if the weather improved.
Meanwhile, due to hailstorm and windstorm several poles and trees were uprooted. Katra-Reasi road remained blocked near Bhaga for about two hours as a large tree fell on the road. It also damaged couple of electricity poles and snapped power supply to many areas. In Jammu city also power remained snapped since early morning till evening. Some of the City areas were still without power supply even after 12 hours. In Rotary Club area and a locality adjoining Green Belt Gandhi Nagar was without power supply till late in the evening. Poles and trees and their branches have broken at many places and it has affected power supply. The water supply to many city areas also remained hit today and it may cause impact on supplies tomorrow as well.
With the snow on the hills and hailstorm in many Jammu areas, the temperature has witnessed sharp fall. Many people in Jammu area took out woolen clothes. Jammu recorded 13 degree less day temperature from the normal (30 deg C) today. The City recorded maximum 16.6 degree C temperature and minimum 15.1 temperature today. Batote recorded minimum temperature of 3.7 deg C, Bhaderwah 9.1 deg C while Katra 13.2 deg C temperature today.
The water logging in many City areas disrupted smooth movement of vehicular traffic.
A Met spokesman has forecast widespread light to moderate rain/ thundershower with isoltade heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir divisions for the next 24 hours.
Report from Srinagar said that heavy rains lashed Kashmir today and the hills had snowfall causing major damage to apple orchards particularly in South Kashmir’s Shopian and Pulwama districts.
The precipitation started Friday night and continued throughout the day today even as the Meteorological (MeT) Department stated that the precipitation is expected to continue with an improvement from Sunday afternoon.
The orchards suffered damage due to snowfall, heavy rains in Shopian areas such as Keller, Heerpora, Sedow, Saidpora, Chek Shamsipora, Chotipora, Dubjan, Chancmarg, Kathahalan and Gatipora. In Pulwama, the damage to the orchards due to untimely snow has been reported from Drubgam, Abahama, Achgooza and Sangerwani along with several other areas.
The officials said that at least 40% of the apple produce was yet to be harvested and that the people did not get enough time to take the necessary steps to prevent the damages. Throughout the day, the people owning the apple orchards were either seen clearing the snow from the apple trees or were harvesting whatever was left of their yearly produce on which they are solely dependent. The growers said that the untimely heavy snowfall has resulted in huge damage to the standing trees as several trees have been damaged while seeking immediate compensation.
“The loss is colossal. One household each has suffered damage in lakhs. There is a need for the Government to come to our rescue,” said one of the aggrieved orchardists from Shopian.
The district administration Shopian had issued an advisory asking people in these areas not to venture out in slopes and hilly areas, while departments such as SDRF, Police and other essential services departments were asked to remain prepared to meet any situation.
DDC, Shopian, Vice Chairman Irfan Manhas told Excelsior that the damage has been extensive and that the orchardists have been left with nothing. “The Home Minister is here and he should take the stock of the situation and the LG-led administration should carry out the immediate assessment of the damages so that the affected people are duly compensated,” he said.
The Apple produce that was kept in store at the Fruit Mandis across Shopian and Pulwama district has also been damaged. As per details, apple boxes in thousands have been damaged at Mega Fruit Mandi, Aglar Shopian, Satellite Fruit Mandi Prachaar Pulwama as well as Fruit & Vegetable Mandi, Prichoo Pulwama.
Further, with regard to the power supply, several areas in Anantnag, Kulgam amid the heavy downpour are reeling under darkness as the electricity poles have been damaged in several areas. The officials however said that they are currently on the job and the power supply will be restored soon.
Meanwhile, three persons died after a boundary wall collapsed in the Kanji Nag area of Noorpora, Awantipora hamlet in the Pulwama district. As per officials, 4 persons were injured after the tent they were living in came under the debris of the wall.
As soon as the incident took place, the police as well the locals residing in the vicinity launched a rescue operation and all the four injured were removed for immediate medical aid. ” Three died on their way to Srinagar, while as one continues to remain in critical condition,” officials said.
Those who died in the incident have been identified as Irshad Bargud, son of Abdul Gani; Mahnaz Akhter, daughter of Qayoom and Wahab Jan, wife Abdul Gafoor. All of them have been stated to be the residents of Reasi district.
As per reports, several nomadic families who were on their way to the Jammu region are stuck in the upper reaches, while several families have been rescued, many are currently remain stuck even as the efforts by the police are on.
In this connection, police today rescued four families comprising of 16 members of nomadic community stuck in heavy winds and snowfall at higher reaches of Nagbal, Yusmarg known as Salamnak Nagbal Top in Budgam. In Shopian as well, a couple of nomadic families stuck in the upper reaches of Neelinad Shahdab Karawa were also rescued by the police. In Pulwama also, the police today rescued 25 nomad families along with livestock from Sangerwani.
On the other hand, the situation in the Srinagar city hasn’t been quite assuring during the day as the low-lying areas once again witnessed a deluge causing immense hardships to the commuters.
With the downpour, the areas in Srinagar like City centre- Lal Chowk, HMT, Zainakote, Bemina, Iddgah along with several other low-lying areas witnessed water-logging. The same was the case in Sopore’s Super Bazar, Downtown and College Road which witnessed water logging due to the incessant rains.
The tertiary care hospital, SKIMS, Bemina also got flooded after rainwater made its way to the ground floor of the hospital even as the lift system has also been rendered useless. The officials at the hospital said that the men and machinery has been pressed into service.
As the heavy precipitation continued, the Kashmir University postponed all the exams scheduled to be held today and stated that the fresh date for the conduct of deferred examinations will be notified later, while as J&K Combined Competitive (Preliminary) examinations is going to be held as per schedule.
In the meantime, the Kashmir Police has established helpline services to facilitate the general public seeking help during any emergency arising due to inclement weather, rain/snowfall.
A Met official said that until 3 pm today, Srinagar received 26.2 mm of rainfall, Qazigund 44.2, Pahalgam 42.2, Kupwara 0.9, Kokernag, 27.8, Jammu 70.8, Banihal 31, Batote 33, Katra 81.1 and Bhaderwah received 13.2 mm of rainfall.
“As expected, rain, snow has decreased considerably from North and Central Kashmir and many areas of the Jammu region. We expect a further decrease in rain/snowfall from the whole of J&K. Overall improvement is most likely from tomorrow. Thereafter, no significant weather is expected for the next 10 days,” Chief Weatherman Sonum Lotus said.
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