* NH, Doda-Kishtwar road blocked; many stranded
Fayaz Bukhari/ Gopal Sharma
Srinagar/ Jammu, Apr 1: Flood water in Kashmir that receded in past 48 hours, has started rising again after fresh spell of rains. The weatherman has forecast rain for two more days and the administration, Police, Army and NDRF are ready to deal with any eventuality while as over 2500 people have been stranded on the Jammu –Srinagar National Highway which continued to be blocked today.
Over 200 houses have been collapsed in various districts of Jammu region in past 24 hours while 10 families from Poonch were shifted to the safer locations by police this morning.
The water level of river Jhelum in Srinagar has dropped from 19.70 feet in past 54 hours to 14.6 feet. The water level at 9 p.m. in Sangam Anantnag was recorded at 11.3 feet. Earlier, three hours ago it had dropped to 10.7 feet.
Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control, Javed Jaffar, told Excelsior that water level at Sangam in Anantnag has increased by 6 inches in past three hours due to rains since last night. He, however, said that there were less rains in South Kashmir but now the rains have shifted from North to South Kashmir.
The fresh rains caused panic among the people majority of the residents from flood prone areas of Srinagar have fled their homes.
The Director Meteorological Department, Srinagar told Excelsior that there will be light to moderate rains for next two days. He said that Western Disturbance is persisting over the State and by evening, its intensity might increase leading to more rainfall and tonight is crucial for the State.
Several families in flood prone areas of Mehjoor Nagar, Sonawar and other places have taken shelter in a Government established relief camp at Sanatnagar. Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Iqbalabad Sonwar said that his house was damaged in last year’s floods. He was living in a shed and now there is threat of floods, he has shifted to relief centre. Labourer by profession, Bhat had no money to take a room for rent so he shifted to this camp along with several other families.
In the meantime Army is operating bases across Kashmir to handle any situation arising out of the floods.
General Officer Commanding of Chinar Corps, Lieutenant General Subrata Saha told Excelsior: “We have got our operating bases in all corners of Kashmir ready to take on any situation. That is precisely what I had gone to check, we are ready to take on any emergency. What is different from the last time is that the spill channels rather than the Jhelum itself where the weaknesses are evident because in most of the places there is lot of water logging and a bit of overflow of water from the spill channel. These two are adding together to complicate the problem”, said the GOC.
Army has constituted three Composite Rescue Groups of Infantry (CRGI) teams to respond to any eventuality in the event of flood in the Kashmir valley. Army has constituted Company Operating Bases (COBs). Each COB has three composite rescue groups comprising Infantry, Engineers , EME and Army Medical Corps. They are located at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Old Airfield and Zainakot. Boats and duty pumps are also deployed at low-lying areas. All local units are providing necessary assistance to the nearby villages specially those which are cut off.
The Corps Commander while playing down the gravity of the situation said that last year there were rains all over the valley but this time it is snowing in the hills that has reduced the chances of massive flooding.
Lt General Saha who was out for week cut short his visit and arrived in Srinagar last night due to threat of floods. He is personally supervising the rescue and relief operations of the Army in the valley.
The eight National Disaster Response Force teams arrived in Kashmir last evening and they have been deployed at vulnerable areas of the Valley. Four helicopters, have been placed in readiness for deployment at short notice in case of any eventuality.
Army today rescued a woman and two children when a vehicle fell into a ditch filled with water on Tekipura road near Lolab in Kupwara.
Defence spokesman said that last night a frantic call for help was received by Army Camp Tekipura, Lolab from Munir Ahmed Lone resident of Anderbug, that his car has fell into a ditch filled with water. “Army Camp Tekipura quickly sprung into action and dispatched a team to the location. One woman and two children stuck in the vehicle were quickly rescued by the team. With heavy rainfall making the area slushy, the recovery of the vehicle became a herculean task. With the help of a JCB and Caspier vehicle, the car was recovered after two hours of constant effort by the team. The local residents were all grateful to the selfless efforts of the team in rescuing the family and appreciated the swift action of Army which averted a certain disaster”, he said.
There have been landslide and sinking of land at Chandoosa, BKalantra, Frashar, Kanispora, Dangerpora Kandi, Mohra, Hajan in Baramulla and water logging at Shair Colony, Rakh Haigam and Model town in Sopore.
In Nanak Bagh and Kanth Biagh Sangrama in district Barmulla the highway is water logged.
In Chan Katar Tral in South Kashmir, there is threat to the lives of people who are living in a slide prone area. A villager, Abdul Ahad told Excelsior that district administration asked the 150 families comprising over 600 families to leave the village for safer places. However, the villagers said that they have nowhere to go as they were not provided any shelter.
Police and administration today rescued 269 families from slide and flash flood prone areas of Kashmir.
Police and civil administration with the assistance of people repaired the embankments at various places and dewatered water logged areas.
Five families comprising of 37 members were rescued at village Dangerpora in district Baramulla and they were relocated and shifted safer places by police. Eight families comprising of 36 members from Nai Basti, Kanlibagh, Baramulla were evacuated and shifted to the local Government school building.
Three vulnerable families of Khour Sherabad in Pattan were shifted to safer locations by police post Kungamdara. Two vulnerable families of Hardichoo Tangmarg were shifted to safer locations by police. Two families of Machikrand and one from Chhoolan in Uri were shifted to safer locations by police. Two families of Ijara Boniyar were shifted to safer places by police in Boniyar.
Police in Shopian rescued 49 families comprising 237 people from village Krachapatri and shifted them to middle school Krachapatri and Borihalan. A family from D K Pora, Zainapora in Shopian was also shifted to safer place after their house collapsed.
In Kupwara, 15 persons were shifted to safer places in village Kandi Karnah seven of them were shifted to the house of one Mohammad Hanif and 8 persons shifted to the house of one Abdul Aziz of village Kandi jointly police in Karnah.
In Anantnag, 15 families comprising of 109 members were evacuated from village Madifal Uttersoo to safer places, three families from Bijbehara, three families from Batagund Gujjar Basti, three families from Zamalgam Gujjar Basti, two families from Ring Mundo Kapran, four families from Manzmoo and three families from Kapran were shifted to safer places by police and district administration. Bijbehara police alongwith 90 CRPF repaired the Vashav Nallah bank at Tulkhan, Bijbehara.
In Budgam, Police evacuated over 100 families from landslide prone area of Brinjan Chadoora and shifted them to safer locations mostly in Government higher secondary school Hadroo and eight families from Braripatri have been shifted to Government School Braripathri Charari-Sharif.
In Kulgam, police today shifted 14 families consisting 65 members from Mirasi Nallah Kund to safer place and adjusted them in nearby schools.
In Ganderbal, 17 families have been shifted from different landslide prone areas of Kangan area to the safer places.
The India Reserve Police repaired and plug the bund at Hamdaniya Colony Bemina that had breached earlier.
Police in Kothibagh area used over 1000 sand bags to strengthen river bund at various places in Kothibagh area.
Police station Soura arranged sand filled bags which were utilized at Chanapora and Noushera.
Reports from Jammu said that with the incessant rains and land slides, over 200 houses were collapsed in various districts of the region, the Jammu- Srinagar National Highway and Doda-Kishtwar road again blocked due to landslides at many places the police shifted 10 families in Poonch to the safer places.
A top Traffic Police official said that due to fresh land slides at Kheri, Nashri, Seri, Gangro, Magarkot and Panthal, Jammu-Srinagar Highway was again closed this afternoon. He said at Kheri near Udhampur, the land slides were cleared in the morning and about 500 light vehicles were allowed to move towards Valley. They crossed Chenani and Batote and now these vehicles have been stranded at Ramban and Chanderkote and could not move ahead due to fresh land slides as rain again started. He said the BRO men could not initiate clearance work due to heavy rain. Over 2500 passengers said to have been struck on the highway.
He further disclosed that Batote-Doda-Kishtwar and Bhaderwah and Gandoh roads are also closed as land slides have taken place at Korhapani, Raggi Nallah, Khileni, Dradu and many other places. All the link roads in these districts are also blocked. He said there is no possibility of opening of road even tomorrow as Met office has predicted heavy rain in next two days.
With road blockade massive scarcity of food items, vegetables, kerosene oil and LPG has been reported from Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Thathri, Gandoh, Chhatroo, Paddar and other areas. The power supply to over 75 % of the these three districts of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar has been snapped. Three houses including a three- storey building of one Iqbal Rather was damaged in land slide at Pattimahal area of Kishtwar today. Over three dozen houses reported to have been damaged in three districts of Chenab region in last two days while more such reports are coming from the remote areas. The power supply has also been affected in many parts of Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch besides parts of Kathua and Samba districts.
Reports from Poonch said that due to massive flood, the police shifted 60 members of 10 families of Betar village to the safer location today. They were removed to a community hall at Poonch in the police vehicles. SSP Poonch J S Johar said that Administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected families. He said after receiving emergency call the police men responded immediately and removed all these trapped people to the safer locations. About two dozen houses were fully/ partially damaged in Poonch area since last evening.
Reports from Rajouri said that at least 71 kucha houses have been fully damaged in last two days in the district. It said that apart from six pucca houses and 12 cow sheds also perished. 31 sheep/goats were also killed in the district. 17 houses were damaged in Kotranka, 13 in Sunderbani, 14 in Rajouri, five in Darhal, 12 in Siot, three in Nowshera, four in Majakote. Over 20 houses are reported to have been damaged in Reasi area including parts of Mahore, Sungri, Chassana, Gulabgarh, Pouni and Bhamag areas.
One family of Mohd Abdullah was shifted to safer location at Malas in Mahore tehsil. Mahore-Chasana and Mahore Gulabgarh and Gool roads are also still blocked. Dudu-Basantgarh, Chenani-Lati, Landhar- Pencheri and several link roads in Ramnagar are also blocked. A bridge washed away at Londra in Ramnagar area last night. Over 30 houses were reported to have been fully and partially damaged in this belt.
A Defence spokesman said that Army provided immediate assistance to the rain and landslide affected people in Banihal area. The troops provided tarpaulin and other material on the request of Civil Administration. Over a dozen shops and four houses were damaged in the land slides near Khan Mohalla in Banihal. The Army was fully involved in rescue operation.
Meanwhile, a large number of stranded passengers from Doda-Bhaderwah and Kishtwar areas held protest at Jammu Bus Stand and demanded that they should be airlifted. Later, MLA Bhaderwah Dalip Singh Parihar visited these people and listened to their problems. He also talked to MOS Transport Mr Kohli and Divisional Commissioner Jammu to provide assistance. They complained that Sumo/ Taxi operators were charging high rates.
In Jammu area, the water logging and flash floods in the nullahs created problem in free movement of vehicular traffic. The attendance in the offices was also thin due to rain. The hailstorm has caused massive damage to the crops in the plain areas of Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts. A large number of trucks have been stranded at Nagrota Bypass, Jagti, Udhampur Bypass and Dhar road due to highway blockade. The chopper service to Katra Mata Vaishnodevi also remained suspended while yatra continued despite rain and bad weather, an official spokesman said.
A male devotee namely Raju Verma (44) son of Shri Verma of Uttam Nagar, New Delhi, was injured when a shooting stone hit him near Himkoti this evening. He was rushed to Katra hospital where doctors referred him to GMC Hospital Jammu.
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