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One dead; Roads blocked, houses collapse in Jammu

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 3/12/2014 12:03:38 PM

JAMMU, Mar 11: Heavy rains coupled with snowfall led to disaster, closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway besides the approaching roads in several districts of Jammu region. One person lost his life in Reasi district while several others were injured elsewhere in lightening. Several structures including residential houses besides various vehicles were damaged. Incessant rains have thrown life out of gear in the winter capital for the last two consecutive days while the power supply in most of the parts remained affected due to rains and winds.
The road as well as air traffic was badly affected and hundreds of people were marooned as the upper reaches were cut off with rest of India due to damage to the roads and communication network. An emergency like situation prevailed in several parts of the region and administration of the respective districts geared up for relief and rescue operation.
Rains for the last two days have brought life to standstill across the winter capital, while the schools also witnessed thin attendances. Power supply also got affected in most parts of the city, bringing life to a halt as the damaged transformers and electric poles could not be repaired due to rains. One house of Kasturi Lal collapsed due to heavy rains at Kanji House in Jammu while the five family members managed to come out of the house in time. Rs 2.50 lakhs loss was estimated in the house collapse.
The city of temples witnessed heavy water logging in the low lying areas. The vehicle passed these areas half dipped in water and pedestrians were worst affected. The water also gushed into several houses causing damage to house hold articles in Shakti Nagar and Talab Tillo areas.
People, were seen running for shelter to protect themselves. Rains however, have not brought any good sign for the farmers as the crop of Rabi has been badly affected.
Cold conditions have once again returned to the winter capital, following continuous rains. Jammu-Srinagar National Highway also got closed after fresh snowfall and hundreds of vehicles got stranded on the highway.
Meanwhile the chopper service to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine was also suspended due to rain and bad weather conditions.
Reports from Reasi said that one villager was killed as lightening struck in village Bij where he was living in his in-laws house in Reasi district, this morning at 10.00 AM.
The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Yasin, 28, son of Abdul Aziz resident of Kanthi-A village in Reasi.
SSP Reasi Vivek Gupta while talking to KTNS said that as it was raining heavily, Mohammad Yasin went out of his in-laws house to attend the call of nature. The lightening from sky fell upon him resulting in his on the spot death.
He said that the police team rushed to village Bij after getting information and after completion of legal formalities, the body was handed over to family members for last rites. The burial will take place tomorrow morning, he added.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Shahid Iqbal announced Rs 10,000 ex-gratia for the next of kin of the deceased from Red Cross fund.
The vehicular traffic on Katra-Reasi road remained suspended for four hours due to landslides. The Mahore-Reasi road was also blocked due to landslides. Heavy snowfall was witnessed in the upper reaches of Reasi especially in Gulabgarh and Mahore areas.
Reports from Poonch said that a young woman sustained burns while a Kutcha house was gutted in fire due to lightening in Poonch district.
According to official reports a woman identified as Nazia Koser, 23, wife of Mohammad Javed of Dharati Balakote sustained burns due to lightning. She was immediately referred to District Hospital (DH) Rajouri where doctors treated her. While a Kutcha house was also gutted in fire at Balakote area of Poonch district.
Eyewitness said that the house caught in fire suddenly due to lightning. After getting the information, locals controlled the fire and rescued the owner and cattle from the house. According to owner the house was completely gutted.
Meanwhile on the basis of information from SASE the J&K State Disaster Management Authority has issued high danger avalanche warning for hilly areas of Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri and Kargil. People living in these snowbound areas have been requested to take precautions and not to venture on steep slopes. The warning is valid for the next 24 hours.
“In view of cancellation of flight AI-449 and AI-450 on March 10, Air India has arranged additional flight to clear stranded passengers,” official spokesman here said.
He said that the Air India shall operate the additional flight on Jammu-Leh Sector. Therefore stranded passengers are requested to report at Jammu airport at 7.45 AM on March 12.
Reports from Banihal said that Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the 2nd day due to heavy rain and snow fall at Patnitop and Jawahar Tunnel as well as fresh landslides near Ramban.
Snow cutting machines has been put on the job to clear two feet snow near Jawahar tunnel and one feet at Patnitop due to heavy snow fall in the past two days. Around 800 vehicles including 500 trucks and 300 light motor vehicles remained stranded at various places on the national highway.
Chillai Kalan seems to have returned due to heavy snowfall in Banihal, Gool and Patnitop while it was raining heavily in Ramban district. At-least nine residential houses got damaged in Ramban district due to heavy raining. Snowfall started at Jawahar tunnel mid night whereas at Banihal at 5 PM.The snow accumulated at Banihal was one feet whereas at Jawahar tunnel it was two-and-a-half feet till 5 PM.
People of Banihal brought out Kangries (fire pots) and traditional ‘Phirans’. Children were seen playing with snowballs and skating at white covered snow sheets.
Nine residential houses damaged in Ramban district with two residential houses damaged due to landslide at village Chandroog, Ramban near District Police Lines about four kms from Ramban city. The damaged residential houses belonged to Bader Din son of Kalu Khan, Mohammad Rafi son of Bader Din Khan, Abdul Rashid son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din all residents of village Chandroog of tehsil Ramban.
Seven residential Houses have also been damaged due to heavy rainfall in Niabat Gool. The damaged residential houses belonged to Nazir Ahmed son of Karam Din, Mohammad Sharief son of Nazir Ahmed, Mohammad Israil son of Karam Din all residents of village Dalwah (Gool), Mohammad Yaqoof son of Mohammad Israil of Tetharka (Gool), Reyaz Ahmed son of Bashir Ahmed of Dharam, Abdullah son of Nabera Wani of Dalwah, Mohammad Farooq son of Mohammad Shafi Ganie of Tetharka.
Talking to KTNS OC BECON DK Bohra told that shooting stones were sliding at Panthal and Anokhi fall on the national highway, while avalanches hit the highway at Anokhi fall with landslide two meters long 8 meters wide and 10 meters in height. He added that Ramsu to Ramban patch caused massive shooting stones at Panthal and Anokhi fall which force closure of national highway for at full day. Shooting stones started at 6.00 AM and big rocks continued to fall throughout the day which prevent the BRO men to clear the road.
In view of the incessant rains and snowfall all schools government and private schools shall remain closed due to possibility of landslides and shooting stones in district Ramban from March 11 &12, 2014 as DC Ramban issued orders.
The train service remained on the track besides snowing at Kashmir valley and Banihal. Kashmir side passengers who arrived at Banihal by train were sent back due to closure of national highway from Ramsu to Ramban.
Tehsildhar Banihal Syed Farooq told KTNS that all shelter sheds were opened for stranded passenger at Gund Adalkoot and Nowgam. Passengers who come via train from Kashmir to Banihal were sent back to Kashmir as national highway is closed due to landslide and shooting stones at Panthal and Anokhi fall Battery Chasma. Stranded passenger will be accommodated in shelter sheds. Blankets, gas cylinders and firewood were provided to the stranded passengers in shelters sheds. All shelter sheds are monitored under his supervision, Tehsildhar added.
Due to heavy snowing electricity into the entire Banihal remain effected throughout the day.
Reports from Doda said that due to the continuous heavy rain and snowfall in the district since last few days, the entire Chenab valley region is under the grip of severe cold waves, hitting normal life badly.
It is said that people residing in upper reaches are facing hardships due to non-availability of food grains and kerosene oil during the last fifteen days and there is also acute shortage of essential commodities in various parts of Doda, Bhaderwah, Thathri, Gandoh Bhalessa and villages of district Kishtwar. Number of link roads leading from tehsil headquarter to interior of the villages have also been reported damaged due to land sliding and shooting stones.
The authorities of district administration in Kishtwar and Doda have announced closure of all educational institutions in their districts for couple of days due to severe cold and damages of the link roads, so as to avoid any mishaps.
Reports reaching here also revealed that various residential houses got damaged due to heavy rainfall where as moderate landslides near Kora Pani in Assar and Raggi Nallah also affected the vehicular movement on Doda-Batote National Highway where around 200 vehicles were stranded since last night. However, efforts are being made by the GREF and R&B authorities to clear the road for vehicular movement. More ever the traffic road for Bhaderwah and Kishtwar was also closed due to heavy landsliding in various areas near Drabshallah, Saroor, Chaingam, Palmar, Gandoh, Jai, Nalthi, Kellar, Behota Marmat road, Gundna Dhara Bhahore road, Chillotran Udhyanpur Road and Bhagwah Kashtigarh Road.
In upper reaches of Chenab valley region including Doda, Bhaderwah, Thathri, Gandoh, Kishtwar and various other parts of this region, 2-3 feet of snow was recorded while in plains areas, heavy rainfall was recorded forcing the people to stay at their homes.
In view of continuous rains since 9th instant today on March 11, 2014 many boulders have fallen on the NHIB thereby causing damage to 2 LMVs and a bathroom in Prem Nagar area, besides causing disruption in movement of traffic at Assar, Korapani, Reginallah. Few empty trucks and buses and LMVs are still lying on the NHIB but general public of Doda including Sub-Divisions have been requested through loudspeakers by the concerned SHOs not to venture out for travelling purpose with their vehicles in view of apprehension of heavy landslides.
Light snowfall coupled with incessant rains Monday and Tuesday left most parts of Gandoh, Bhalesa causing inconvenience to motorists. Owing to faulty drainage system areas like Gandoh, Chilly Batyas, Gawari Chouwari, Khara, Jakyas and many areas of Bhalessa remained waterlogged for the whole day.
Sumo drivers refused to go to desired destinations and those who would agree demanded double fare, said a local resident of Gandoh
Newly appointed Tehsildar, Gandoh Bhalessa, Jony Kumar said men and machinery has been deployed to remove blockade of drains so that people are relieved of inconvenience. “I am very much concerned about the problems caused by rain water and sewerage system. We are working hard to give people some relief,” he added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers were stranded at General Bus Stand Jammu since last couple of days due to closure of National Highway.
The stranded passengers including children and elderly persons alleged that state government made no arrangements for their boarding and lodging at General Bus Stand. They added that the shopkeepers are over charging for the commodities and even the people managing ‘Sulabh Toilet Complex’ at Bus Stand here are charging not less than Rs 10 against their rate of Rs 2.
“A cup of tea is provided at the rate of Rs 10 to the stranded passengers by the shopkeepers and the administration has not arranged any ‘langer’ for them. They said that most of the Kashmir bound passengers are lying in an open verandah for the last couple of days none of the officials from the state administration visited them,” alleged Mohammad Shafi of Kupwara, who have been stranded alongwith his seven family members including women and children.