Dozens killed as rains deluge J&K

Jhelum, Chenab overflowing; torrent washes away wedding party, 50 missing   

SRINAGAR: The unprecedented flood fury has left both Jammu as well as Kashmir deluged with over two dozen people dead and scores feared killed in torrent that washed away a bus carrying the wedding party in the southern Rajouri district. The officials say the mid-summer rains and subsequent floods are worst ever in forty years and the losses to lives, property and crops are being counted. Dozens of bridges have been swept away and even larger roads have caved in, blocking the inter-district movement. 

A government spokesperson said that 20 deaths were reported from the State on Thursday. In Anantnag two deaths were reported while 6 deaths were reported from Reasi. Two persons died in Baramulla, two in Budgam, seven in Poonch and one death was reported from Doda district.

Moderate to heavy rainfall continued across Kashmir for the third consecutive day resulting in water logging and flood at different places of Srinagar city. People faced difficulties as most of the areas of Srinagar city including Safa Kadal, Eidgah, Nowshehra, Soura, Ali Jan Road, Nowgam, Natipora, Kursoo Rajbagh, Padshahi Bagh, Gulshan Nagar, Mehjoor Nagar, Gogji Bagh, Wazir Bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh and Bemina remained inundated.

The overflowing Jehlum and other streams and nallahs submerged over 300 houses at Hamdania Colny Bemina in Srinagar.

Panicked by the rapidly increasing water, the confused residents of Bemina locality ran for their lives into safer places leaving behind their homes and hearths. Many people took shelter on rooftops when water suddenly entered into their homes and submerged them within no time during the intervening night of Wednesday.

Besides civil administration and Jammu and Kashmir police, Army personnel from 53, 35 and 2 Rashtriya Rifles started rescue operation and evacuated stranded residents including children and shifted them to safer places. Locals hailed the efforts put by the Jammu and Kashmir policemen and said that before the arrival of Army with boats, the local police used their vehicles to safeguard the lives and property of people. “The area was inundated suddenly during the dead of the night. We were unable to takeout our belongings from our houses as flow of water was swift,” Javid Ahmed, a resident of Hamdania Colony Bemina said.

Reports said that due to incessant rains, Haj House and Jehlum Medical College and its associated building were also inundated. A JVC official said that soon after the inundation, patients were shifted to safer places. In Srinagar city, it was chaos and confusion all over as the shopkeers and family members were seen collecting their belongings and goods to move them to safer places. Some people from Mehjoor Nagar, Padshahi Bagh, Chanapora, Natipora, Rambagh, Barzulla and other parts of Bemina used load carriers and other vehicles to ferry their belongings to safer places. The flash floods washed away the recently constructed bridge at Mehjoor Nagar. Locals blame the present government for the destruction of bridge as they alleged that despite spending crores on the bridge, its plan was ill-conceived and the material used was sub-standard.

The accumulated rain water also made entry into various shops at Hari Singh High Street in city centre Srinagar. At Naz Colony Sangpora in Pantachowk, scores of houses were damaged due to gushing waters. People alleged that nobody from administration turned up for their help. “We have been waiting for boats as our children are crying. We have not even shifted our belongings to safer places,” a resident said.

A video journalist was rescued by Army when his ‘Outside Broadcasting’ (OB) van got stuck in the midst of flashfloods near Badami Bagh Cantonment area of Srinagar-Jammu highway. The traffic was closed near Panta Chowk after water level increased considerably on roads. The roads were inundated at scores of places due to inundation as the rains continued to lash Kashmir Valley for the third consecutive day on Thursday.

Due to grave situation, a control room was setup at the Police Control Room (PCR) Batamalloo, Srinagar to monitor the flood situation. The officers of all Engineering, Health, Housing and other concerned departments stationed in the control room minutely monitored the situation to prevent any loss of human lives and property besides, extending help to the people wherever required.

Accordingly, under emergency circumstances, the people were informed to contact on Phone Numbers 0194-2474040, 2452138, 2455883 for any kind of help from the Government.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir issued an advisory asking the people living along the banks of river Jehlum and embankments of different water bodies to move to safer areas immediately in view of the flood situation.

Due to swelling waters in Nallah Sindh, hundreds of villagers from Central Kashmir’s Gund, Kangan and other areas shifted to safer places. Executive Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Ganderbal said that water level is increasing but so far, there is no threat of flood in the district. He said that they are ready to meet any challenge and all the departments are alert to safeguard the lives and property of the people. Meanwhile, flash floods washed away two bridges at Hayen-Palapora and Yachama Kangan. The house of one Abdul Aziz Kasana was collapsed due to incessant rains at Haqnar Gund Kangan. Reports said that in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district Nallah Shali-Ganga and Nallah Sukhnag were overflowing while the authorities shifted the local population to safer places . The areas around Sumbal, Kulhama, Lankershakpora have also submerged.

Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir, Mir Javed Jaffer said, “Water level is increasing in rivers especially in south Kashmir but we are regularly monitoring the situation,” Jaffer said.

The flash floods affected most parts of the South Kashmir while life was completely disrupted due to incessant rains and inundation. Swelling waters over flooded the road at Dooru-Verinag bridge in Anantnag district which swept away not only the the bridge but the temporary structures as well. The gushing water flooded the paddy fields and uprooted apple and other trees and swept away domestic animals in many areas of Kulgam and Anantnag district. Water submerged numerous houses and caused death of domestic animals. Muhammad Ramzan, who runs a local shop at Gudol village in Kokarnag area, narrated that it happened all of a sudden at about 2 am.“We heard the sound of the gushing water and the water rose to about 6 feet within 10 minutes flooding our houses and washing away all belongings,” he said. Two persons including a woman lost their lives whom locals identified as Muhammad Jameel Gorsi and Jana Begum.

Muhammad Ashraf Bhat from Kaigam Awantipora said that he and his family were in deep sleep when the water entered into their home with full force. They somehow managed to escape from their house,” he said. Numerous villages in District Pulwama including Sail, Charsoo, Padgampora, Pahoo and Ratnipora were submerged while people faced tough time in shifting their belongings to safer places.In some school buildings in Pulwama district, waters flooded the buildings up to 6 feet mark. The students of the few hostels were safely evacuated to a safer place by the school authority.

The water level of Jehlum according to reports was increasing and was still flowing above danger mark.

The bridge at Pulwama-Keller road was washed away which resulted in the disruption of traffic. A wooden bridge at Padgampora Pulwama was also washed away by the flash floods. Due to overflooded roads, authorities diverted Srinagar-Anantnag traffic towards Chandrigam-Dadsara in Tral town. In South Kashmir’s Shopian district authorities rescued hundreds of people who were trapped inside their house when floods hit Wandina Mulhura village. Tehsildar Zainpora, Shakil Ahmed said that some people were reluctant to come out from their houses while authorities kept some boats at their disposal.

An official said that there are huge losses to private property due to heavy rains and so far the damage has been reported in respect of 150 houses. In District Anantnag more than 50 houses are sub-merged. Mostly, these villages are in the Tehsil of Bijbehara, Anantnag and Pahalgam.

In North Kashmir’s Pattan town several areas including Kumgamdara, Mehrajpora, Hanjiwera, Tantray Mohalla, Payeen, Ghat Gopalan, Trikolbal, and Mundari Villages were submerged in water. Several areas in Sopore town including Tarzoo, Haigam, Haritara and Ambarpor have reportedly been submerged due to flash floods.

In district Kupwara, 15 villages are under submergence. Around 1500 people were trapped in village Asthal and near Chawalgam in Kulgam district. Officials said that the helicopter was requisitioned but same could not operate because of bad weather. Reports said that Army and SDRF teams are helping for carrying out rescue operations.

In Jammu province due to heavy rains 14 persons have lost their lives and also the actual number of deaths in Nowshera where one bus was washed could not be ascertained. CNS quoted the officials saying that 46 persons were killed in the accident while three persons were rescued.

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