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Phutkal artificial lake bursts in Kargil

Kashmir Times. Dated: 5/7/2015 11:59:27 PM

JAMMU, May 7 (Agencies): The Phutkal artificial lake in Kargil district burst on Thursday, even as officials said all the people living downstream had been shifted to safety.
"Phutkal artificial lake suddenly burst at 8.00 AM today and the released water has washed away some bridges downstream," a district administration official told agencies.
"We have shifted people living in downstream areas to safety and there is no apprehension of loss of life. But the damage to property and land will have to be seen," the official added.
The released water, as per officials, is yet to reach the small town of Padum, the headquarters of Zanskar sub-division of Kargil district.
Phutkal artificial lake was created five months ago by landslides during winter.
Reports said people, who have abandoned their homes in Padum, are anxious and helplessly waiting to see what damage the huge released water from the burst lake causes.
Teams from the central and state disaster management authorities had visited the artificial lake and even released the accumulated water marginally to bring down the threat to downstream areas.
At least six bridges were washed away in flash floods in Zanskar subdivision of Kargil district on Thursday. As a precautionary measure the residents of scores of hamlets including Padum moved to safer places as the water level in Phuktal river has been showing a rising trend.
Pertinently, Zanskar Valley was under flood threat because one of the tributaries of the Zanskar River had been blocked by a massive 200 ft high landslide‒equal to height of a 20-storey building. The landslide dam between Shaday Sumdo and MarShun had created a lake that is about 8 km long, whose size was increasing every day.
Locals of Padum Zanskar informed that all the culverts and bridges located at different places including Ichar, Padum, Tipting, Chah and Pipcha were washed away due to flash floods. “The water level in the river has been increasing thick and fast and the gushing waters are passing through Zangla-Nimbo road that connects Zanskar with Leh.
Due to flash floods, educational institutions remained closed on Thursday. “The only bridge that students used to reach Higher Secondary school has been washed away as a result no one turned up there,” said a local Muhammad Akbar.
An official said there is no flood threat to the areas like Padum as the water level has started decreasing. He confirmed that several bridges and culverts have been washed away due to speedy waters.
Meanwhile, locals blamed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the present mess. NDRF team that had arrived here received millions of rupees to clear the blockage, but the team did nothing. “The temporary measures taken by the NDRF team did not prove effective,” locals said.
When contacted Deputy Commissioner Kargil said that the bursting of artificial lake on river Phuktal caused flash floods. He said that the flood caused damage to the infrastructure and some six bridges have been washed away.