KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Parts of North Kashmir were inundated after incessant rains and snowfall causing damage to the roads and houses while Srinagar Jammu highway remained closed for traffic for the third consecutive day on Saturday.
After heavy rainfall Weatherman has forecast improvement in weather from Sunday bringing respite to the people.
The Director Meteorological Department in Srinagar, Sonum Lotus told CNS that weather will improve from Saturday night and further improvement will be from Sunday morning.
Scores of hamlets from North Kashmir’s Handwara town including Taras, Kandi, Natnusa, Waripora, New Colony, Magam and Kralgund were inundated after flash floods. District administration including Handwara Municipality used all means to dewater these localities. Due to inundation shops remained closed while thin movement of people were observed on the roads.
An official said that people residing near Uri-I and Uri-II dams were shifted to safer places after water started entering into many villages. The villages of Salamabad, Kalgai, Jhulla and Dachi villages were shifted to safer places. Snow avalanches and landslides triggered panic in upper reaches of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Around six mild snow avalanches and landslides were triggered by incessant rains in upper reaches of Gund tehsil in the district early Saturday morning. They said people ran for safer places after land started caving-in at several places in Sonamarg, Gagangeer, Rayil, Hung and Ganiwan areas. However, there was no report of loss of life or property. Authorities have appealed the residents living in avanlanche-prone areas to stay indoors.
In Pattan area Trikolbal, Ghatgopalan, Khoi Sultanpora, Hanjivera Payeen, Nooripora, Gund Khawaja Qasim, Kanturbough, Malmou, Arampora, Bedbugh, Habak and Tengpora, Malbuchan were inundated creating enormous problems for the people.
Over 35 sheep were washed away after flash floods entered a shed in Quil area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Friday night. Shepherd Muhammad Yousuf Dar said that flash flood waters entered the sheep shed at around 10 pm and washed away over 35 sheep. Three children were injured in a house collapse in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The house collapsed in Zangam village apparently due to caving in of land caused by incessant rains during past couple of days. SSP Baramulla Imtiyaz Hussain said the children were rescued from the house after it came down Saturday morning.
Reports said that water also entered in the corridors of JVC hospital. Water pumps were used to drain the rain water from the hospital. Protests erupted in Budshah Nagar Block C, Firdous Abad Batamaloo due to inundation of these areas. The locals alleged that administration did not do anything to drain the waters from these areas. “We had repeatedly called Srinagar Municipal Corporation for help but no heed was given to our pleas,” Ghulam Hasan Beigh said.
Several areas in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district including Wudwan, Soibugh, Arth Ghat also submerged in water resulting in the disruption of vehicular and pedestrian movement.
The Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed for traffic for the third consecutive day. “The Jammu-Srinagar Highway, which was closed on Thursday due to massive landslides triggered by heavy rains at several places along the highway, continues to remain closed for the third consecutive day today,” SSP Traffic, NH1, Sanjay Kotwal said.
He said around 600 vehicles, including 550 trucks, were stranded at different places on the 300-km long highway.
“Some stranded passenger vehicles were cleared yesterday but around 550 Jammu-bound trucks and 50 passenger vehicles were still stranded at different places on the highway,” Kotwal said. Kotwal said the Batote-Doda National Highway has also been closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides at two places.
Authorities suspended traffic on all major roads of district Doda, including 110-Km long Batote-Kishtwar highway for 3rd consecutive day due to landslides triggered by incessant rains. Due to continuous hostile weather, the district administration also ordered closure of all the educational institutions for third day.
Meanwhile, dewatering of water logged areas taken up in Srinagar, official spokesperson said this evening.
On the directions of Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Fire and Emergency Services Department today installed dewatering pumps at various Water logged areas of Srinagar including Maisuma, Pantha Chowk, SBI Bank Residency Road, Hari Singh High Street, Abi Guzar, Exhibition, Women’s College, Sumander Bagh, Haj House, Dr. Ali Jan Road, Cargo near Police Station, Revenue Quarters Bemina, Batamaloo, Maternity Hospital Sanatnagar and JVC Hospital Bemina.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation and UEED Departments also conducted dewatering through dewatering pumps/sucker Machines.
For the convenience of general public telephone numbers of Control Rooms established by various Departments have already been notified.
