by Hilal Shah
KUPWARA: The fast-flowing Pohru, a Jhelum tributary originating from the Shamsbari Hills in remote north Kashmir, has wreaked havoc in parts of Kupwara. Flood in the rivulet has led to floods of almost 40 villages and a lot of public infrastructure is still inundated.
“We have a piece of land on which three schools operate,” one resident in Maidan-e-Chogal said. “The cumulative enrollment could be more than 800. Two state-run high schools, one each for boys and girls and a primary school operate from this spec but last 15 days it is not in operation.”
Residents said the premise is in the flood basin of the Pohru River and any spillover forces the schools to shut down. “Almost 10 days back, the water got in and the school was closed. Then it was cleaned and now one story of the schools is underwater,” he said. “Though the staff somehow took the school records out, it is scattered across the orchards and we do not know if it will survive.”
The residents said they have been seeking help from the government to raise a protection wall so that the critical piece of infrastructure is saved but they are not getting any help. “If it can be shifted to other places, it is better,” one resident added.
The residents in neighbouring Kulngam said they have been underwater for the last three days. They have been able to save their belongings but their dwellings are still under water. “The government officials have been coming and are right now in the village but they have nothing much to offer,” one resident, angry enough to force this reporter to accompany him to the inundated homes, said. “We need some kind of protection from the frequent flooding.” The entire Astan Mohalla of the area is underwater.
The residents said they had sown paddy for the rice sapling but that has been completely washed away. Tens of thousands of apple orchards including the high density are under water. In certain areas, roads are underwater and there is no movement possible. There are Shikara boats in operation in certain areas and the priority is to help the impacted population reach safer places.
Officials said they have evaluated 606 families from impacted areas so far. They said only one villages are fully impacted and the rest of the 69 villages are partially impacted. Most of the people have moved from impacted areas of the village to the safer areas of the same hamlets. Now the level in the rivulet is gradually receding, officials said. This will help the inundated areas witness relief.
District officials admitted the floods have damaged several major infrastructure projects including Shumriyal Bridge, Bakihakhar Bridge, Khumryal Bridge (side walls), Shart Muqam Bridge, Sohipora- Hayhama Bridge, Farkyan Bridge, two RDD buildings at Kupwara and AD Handicrafts office building. Shumryal- Gundajhanger road got cut off due to scouring and a breach in the Doban Kachama dam, they added. They said the highway that was closed earlier has now resumed routine.
The area is currently being visited by various politicians as the area was witnessing a high-pitch campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. Omar Abdullah also visited various areas. Omar, former Chief Minster, is pitted against Sajad Lone. The new entrant to the competition is jailed politician, Engineer Rasheed. Fayaz Mir was fielded by PDP and he has uploaded several video clips showing him visiting the impacted areas for the last two days.
Pohru is a ferocious rivulet that drains a vast belt from Sahmasbari Hills and is joined by Nallah-e-Kahmil, Nallah-e-Lolab, Nallah-e- Bohipora, and Nallah-e- Haihama. It joins Jhelum near Doabgah (Sopore ). It is known for its unruly flow and routinely impacts the populations living on its banks. Seelu was the first village that suffered seriously as the flood waters started spilling over. Its key identity is that it changes its course every year and resorts to massive soil erosion. Its ferocious nature has helped the government in transporting timber from remote hills to the plains into Wullar.
However, the river is crucial to the agriculture of the entire north Kashmir belt as Pohru waters charge various streams including Laal Kul, which Kashmirt’s medieval king, Budshah built to feed the Zainageer area; the Band Kul and Doon Wari stream. It is a major source of fish in the area.
