Downpour triggers multiple landslides in J&K; weather conditions to improve from tomorrow: MeT, Sgr-Jmu highway remains closed for third straight day
Peerzada Waseem/ Umaisar Gul
Srinagar, Aug 27 (KNO): A man was killed after tree fell on him in Poonch district of Jammu while as the incessant rainfall for the second consecutive day triggered flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir areas on Thursday, officials said.
They said that a man identified as Faqir Ahmed son of Muhammad Ismail resident of Targain, Rajouri at present in Dhok Girjan, Surankote in Poonch district, got killed after a tree fell on him amid heavy rainfall. This is the second causality in the past 24 hours. Yesterday, a man was killed due to landslides in Jammu region.
Officials said that two dozen people were trapped in the flood water in Jammu division of which 18 were rescued and the remaining were being rescued by the disaster management teams, police and the army.
The weatherman has predicted improvement in the weather conditions from tomorrow morning and stated the weather would remain mostly dry for the next coming days. Besides, the Srinagar-Jammu highway continued to remain closed for the third consecutive day as the fresh shooting stones continue to occur at many places along the highway.
The incessant rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir has triggered flash floods in Jammu parts and also caused inundation in Kashmir parts especially in the low-lying areas of Srinagar district where people faced waterlogging.
Witnesses told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that almost all the roads including in commercial Hub Lal Chowk, link roads, lanes and bi-lanes were inundated today due to the incessant rainfall, causing hardships to the pedestrians as well as to the commuters.
In Sopore area of north Kashmir, Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Division in an order issued flood alert in Sopore areas.
“It is continuously raining from last 24 hours and there is every apprehension of heavy discharged in the adjacent Nallahs and tributaries as such all the sector officer, beat officers are asked to remain vigilant and have an advance inspection of their jurisdiction especially vulnerable spots, and apprise the undersigned with latest situation,” the order, a copy of which lies with KNO reads.
The heavy rainfall has also triggered landslides in Gingal area of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Reports reaching here that during heavy rainfall, massive landslides occurred near Huwa Mod, Gingal Cholan road, which forced the authorities to close the road.
However, officials said the men and machinery has been pressed to clear the road.
According to KNO Correspondent from Jammu, officials said that at least 24 people were trapped in flood water in different districts from last evening, adding that 18 among them have been rescued while the efforts are on to rescue six other persons.
“In Kathua, seven persons were trapped in Ujh River and the air force chopper was pressed to rescue them,” officials said, adding that all the seven persons were rescued later.
“In Thanamandi area of Rajouri district, three persons were trapped in the river and they were rescued in the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday at around 01:00 AM by the joint team of Army and police,’ they said.
In Harni area of Poonch district, eight people were trapped and police team along with the locals rescued them timely, they said, adding that in Khanetar area of the district, two persons were trapped while the rescue operation is on to rescue them.
They said food has been provided to the persons who are trapped while the efforts are on to rescue them.
In Jhulas area of Poonch district, which is located near Line of Control (LoC), four persons are also trapped in flood water and joint operation by the police and Army was on to rescue them.
Besides, multiple landslides occurred in Rajouri, Poonch, Chinab Valley districts and Reasi district throughout the day, causing damage to the link roads as well as the bridges in the areas.
Officials have also sounded alert in many areas of Jammu division, asking people not to venture near the water bodies.
Officials further informed that a number of cowsheds and other residential houses have also got damaged today. However, the exact number of the damaged structures couldn’t be ascertained till late evening.
In Jammu city, as per the KNO Correspondent, the incessant rains have caused water logging at multiple places, thus simultaneously led to the sufferings of people.
Nonetheless, Deputy Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that the weather conditions as per the forecast will improve from August 28 morning.
He said there is possibility of light rainfall in between 9-10 PM on August 27 evening while the overall weather conditions will improve from tomorrow.
Ahmad further informed that the weather in Jammu and Kashmir will remain mostly dry till the next week. ”There is no fresh forecast of any rainfall,” he said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road connecting Valley with rest of the States continued to remain closed for the third consecutive day today.
Officials said that shooting stones occurred at many places today, which has hampered the road clearance work as well.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Traffic, Ramban, Ajay Anand told KNO the shooting stones has occurred at many places today and the road clearance work has got also hampered due to it. “Once the weather conditions improve, the road will be cleared from the debris,” he said.
“Over 5000 vehicles are stranded on the either side of the road and will be allowed to ply once the road will be cleared,” he added—(KNO)
