Rain, flood wreak havoc in J&K, bridge washed away; one dies, 15 rescued

JAMMU, Aug 26: A villager was killed in house collapse in Rajouri area, over 15 persons were rescued from flooded Ujh river in Kathua, a bridge was washed away in Jammu area while scores of houses were damaged as rain and floods wrecked havoc across J&K since last night.
Over 4000 vehicles were stranded on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to nearly a dozen blockades caused in Ramban and Banihal sectors of highway due to landslides since yesterday. No fresh movement of vehicles was allowed from Kashmir or Jammu side by the Traffic police authorities since Tuesday morning. in Ramban area alone, over 600 vehicles including most of the LMVs are stranded. The continuous rain and shooting stones hampered the restoration work at many places including Maroog, Panthyal, Battery Chashma, Dalwas, Trishul Morh, Seri, Cafeteria Morh, Monkey Morh and Digdole.
River Tawi, Chenab, Ujh, Basantar, Ravi and Tarnah were flooded today after heavy rain. Chenab river was flowing closer to alert mark this evening. Flash flood in Balol Nallah washed away a bridge (vented causeway ) near Jeevan Nagar on Dharap Road. The road communication to a vast area has been snapped. This bridge had been constructed by R&B in 2010 with the cost of over Rs 1.04 crore. Kullahs of over a dozen nomad families in the same area of Dharap Road along Balol were also washed away along with household goods.
Official sources said that a villager was killed while infrastructure including electricity system and bridges suffered substantial damage due to incessant rains in Rajouri and Poonch districts. A number of domestic animals also perished in the heavy rains which battered the region for the last two days.
35-year-old Mohammad Showkat, son of Mohd Hussain, resident of Kaller Mora in Mendhar, at present Gola Nari, Kotli Kalaban in Manjakote (Rajouri), died after cattle shed collapsed during early morning today. He was inside shed at the time of incident and was trying to rescue his cattle. His four cattle also died on the spot.
Power supply to entire Mendhar area has been snapped due to damage to 33 KV lines from Draba and Manjakote in view of flash floods. “Men and machinery have been pressed into service for early restoration,” an official said.
He further said that main passage to footbridge connecting Jammu-Poonch highway with Rajouri Garden in Manjakote town near Thandikassi in Rajouri also got damaged due to heavy rains.
In Thannamandi area of Rajouri also around two dozen houses and 10 cattle shed were damaged. The farms, orchards of the people were also damaged due to landslides along an under construction PMGSY road in Upper Thannamandi near Police Station. An Alto car was also damaged in it.
Reports said that one cattle shed of Mohammad Aslam, son of Sab Din, resident of Sangiote in Mendhar area of Poonch district collapsed due to heavy rains in which five buffaloes died. In Surankote area of Poonch, landslide occurred at village Mastandhara due to heavy rainfall damaging Mastandhara link road and partially damaged the house of Mohd Sageer, son of Mehtab Din. Three vehicles also got damaged in this landslide.
A Tata Sumo got stuck in flash flood in Chhatral area of Mendhar. A police team headed by SHO Mendhar, Manzoor Kohli reached the spot and carried out the rescue operation using a JCB under the supervision of SDPO Mendhar Neeraj Padyar. The flooded water from drains entered many shops and houses in Mendhar town, causing damage to public property.
One person was rescued by the Indian Air Force, who was trapped in a flash flood in a river near Nowshera town this evening. This villager remained trapped for over 6-7 hours in the middle of the river. The local administration took up the issue with DC Rajouri who requested Army and IAF authorities for help. Late, in the evening, he was airlifted by a Chopper of IAF which took a sortie led by Sqd Leader Ganesh Parsad from Jammu airbase. Later, he was shifted to Nowshera hospital for treatment. He was mentally retarded and a non-local, the police said.
Sources said dozens of cattle sheds and Kucha houses collapsed in Poonch and Rajouri districts due to continuous rain. Mandi -Sawjian road also remained blocked due to heavy landslides and debris falling on road. Flash flood also washed away some houses in Sukka Katha area near Drungali river. Household and valuable items got perished whereas no damage to life was reported.
Meanwhile, the police rescued 15 members of nomad families from two different locations near main Ujh bridge and Shabbe Chak at the bank of river Ujh in Kathua. Rajbagh police party led by SHO Bhppinder Singh launched the operation and rescued these family members. Heads of these families are identified as Kasha and Mirza.
Basohli-Bani, Bani-Taggar, Billawar Machedi and Katli roads in district Kathua remained closed due to landslides. Traffic on Dayala Chak-Dinga Amb-Billawar Road was suspended for about three hours during morning due to flash flood in four Nallahs at Pacca Kotha, Pranjali, Nalla Thanggar and Kein. Power supply in entire Bani Sub Division and many parts of Billawar was snapped since last evening and could not be restored till this evening. A Bolera vehicle skidded off the road during heavy rain near Bani and was trapped in the trees. Four persons on board had miraculous escape. They sustained minor injuries. About 20 kanals of land of one Gian Chand at Lakhri village near Ramkote was washed away in flood. Bhini and Naj river were also over flooded. Massive land erosion took place in floods.
Flash flood in Nallahs and large drains in many parts of Jammu city wrecked havoc. In Kalika Nagar, Bahu Fort, Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar, Gangyal, Model Town, Jeevan Nagar, Bhour Camp, Bhore Kothe, Krishna Nagar, Channi Himmar, Channi Rama, Transport Nagar, Narwal, Near Oil Depots, Trikuta Nagar Extension, Gandhi Nagar Extension, Rajiv Nagar, Sainik Colony and many other localities the flood and rain water caused heavy damage. The water entered in many shops and houses and caused extensive damage to public property. The rain and flood water also entered the house of one Subhash Chander in sector 13, Nanak Nagar and caused damage to his property. The houses of many other people in the vicinity were marooned. The Power supply to many areas also remained snapped for hours together. The water supply also remained affected in many parts of Jammu today.
Water logging on National Highway at Gangyal and many other city roads and crossings hit smooth movement of traffic. Massive water logging was witnessed in SKUAST complex near Chatha in Jammu today due to flash flood in Balole Nallah. The entire complex was marooned in water and vehicles of staff got trapped. All the building including Administrative block, auditorium, conference hall, students’ centre and divisions were flooded. Lightning struck a temple in Pacca Danga area this morning causing minor damage to it, but none was injured.