1. Home
2. Front Page

One killed, 10 houses damaged in rains, flash floods

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 8/22/2012 1:27:51 AM

JAMMU, Aug 21: One person lost his life while at-least ten houses besides huge land was today washed away in flash floods triggered by heavy rains in Poonch and Rajouri districts. The normal life was crippled in city of temples here and its suburbs due to water logging today.
Reports from Mendhar said that a youth was killed after his house collapsed due to heavy rains in Dargloon Galouta area of Mendhar in Poonch district, today. The deceased has been identified as Tariq Ahmed, son of Mohammad Yaqoob of Dargloon Galouta.
The youth was sleeping in his kutcha house and due rains it collapsed in the wee hours today. The youth was buried under the debris of the house. The neighbours and villagers immediately launched a rescue operation but all in vain. His two family members were injured in the house collapse.
The body after autopsy was handed over to the family members for last rites.
Heavy rains caused huge destruction in Mendhar where several houses, Power Development Department (PDD) transformer and PDD lines were damaged resulting in disruption in major portion Mendhar hamlet was without power. Three kanals of land was washed away near Hanuman Temple near General Bus Stand, Mendhar. Its adjoining locality Jan Colony called as Java also suffered damage.
Twenty-five roads stretch of Mandhar Bye-Pass caved in due to flash floods triggered by incessant rains. The PDD transformer installed in Java Colony was also washed away while the one kanal of land with protection was of cremation ground of Mendhar alongwith PDD transformer was washed away. Some houses were damaged while other were unsafe due to floods in Dori Kassi at Ward number 2, Mendhar.
Half kilometer PHE water supply line in Ari village of Mendhar was also washed away due to flash floods while the water supply was badly affected. The micro hydel projects constructed on water mills (Gharats) in village Mankot, Sagra and Sakhi Maidan suffered huge damage due to rains and floods rendering villagers helpless.
Three bufalloes were washed away in Dhakhi Behra area of Mandhar as a cattle shed collapsed due to strong water currents. Ward number 1, 2 and 3 besides Jan Mohalla plunged into darkness and was without power since wee hours.
A rescue operation has been taken by army, police and locals. They erected tents for the affected and also distributed relief packages, officials said.
Traffic on Jammu-Poonch National Highway also remained choked for several hours due to flash floods and rise in water levels in diversions on the highway in Poonch district.
Our correspondent Khawaja Sharjeel from Rajouri reported that rains played havoc in Rajouri district as the water gushed in the houses in several localities in the town today. Several roads were submerged while silt gathered at link roads connecting Rajouri while several vehicles got struck in the water and commuters were seen pulling their vehicles out of mud and water. Due to strong water currents several 4-wheeler vehicles fell down from the road while others were trapped in the debris.
Resentment brewed up among the local Rajouri residents against the Municipal committee for not making adequate arrangements in pumping out water from their houses and business establishments. They also expressed their dismay over choking of drains in town and failure of Municipal Committee to prevent water logging.
Our correspondent from Jammu Tilak Mehra from Jammu reported that the drains were completely choked today on the second consecutive day in various parts of the Jammu city and its peripheral areas due to the non-seriousness of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for not initiating the steps before the beginning of the monsoons which creates the similar water logging problems every year. However, water logging also affected road traffic for hours in various parts of Jammu city, especially in the peak hours, this morning.
When contacted, SKUAST Scientist M.K. Khushu said, “Compatible showers will continue in the northern parts and in the upper reaches of the state’s lower Shivalik ranges for two more days and the ongoing Monsoon spell would be in its final stages, lasting till second week of September.”
He said, “If the rains continue in the coming days, except rice and the rest of the crops like vegetables and other crops, the rest will be affected due to water logging and advised the farmers of the state to remove excess water through the pumping systems from their orchards to protect their already sown crops.”
He also said, “As the monsoons remained vigorous in the State including RS Pura, Kathua, Billawar, Samba, Udhampur, Katra, Reasi, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban districts and their adjoining areas receiving the maximum of 114 mm, the folder station showed 253 mm of rains respectively.”
By yesterday, most places witnessed water logging, especially in low-lying areas and the roads while the JMC was unable to sort out the problems being faced by the people due to continuous rains and water logging problems in these areas.
Earlier, the prolonged and the continuous rainfall on Tuesday played a spoilsport for the city denizens who either got trapped in their houses or else were stuck up in the jams and mess that followed across the city. The rainfall which began from late Saturday evening continued till Tuesday morning.
When contacted, JMC Commissioner K.L.Khajuria said, “The department is on the work from yesterday to sort out the complaints received by the corporation from Jewel Chowk, Press Club, Canal Road, Bhagwati Nagar, Beli Charana, Sanjay Nagar and mainly Qasim Nagar and Gangyal. Due to continued rains, our staff is still working in these areas to mitigate the problems faced by the people there.”