Ravaging rains claim first victims from Budgam

Thirteen bodies were recovered from the debris of a house that came under a landslide triggered by heavy rains at Laden village in Chadoora area of Budgam district on Monday while efforts were being made to rescue the remaining trapped persons.
The deceased identified so far include Naseema, Shugufta (daughters of Ghulam Nabi), Rukhsana (wife of Mohammad Shaban), Mohammad Shaban (son of Lal Din Chopan), Mohammad Aslam (son of Mohammad Shaban Chopan) and Shamema (daughter of Lal Din Chopan).
According to officials, two families were living in the house which caved in at around 4 am due to incessant rains. The deceased include a 28-day-old baby. A police party headed by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Fayaz Ahmad Lone, rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations which continued till late evening.
Earlier in the day, Inspector General of police, (IGP), Kashmir, Javed Gilani told : “Rescue operations were carried out in collocation with local people, Central Reserve police force (CRPF) and Army. So far we have been able to dig out nine bodies.”
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed grief over the deaths and sanctioned ex gratia relief in favour of the next of kin of the deceased.
After the incident, fear was writ large on the faces of residents of Laden- a village perched on top of a hillock. People from adjacent villages had gathered around the place and helped the locals to retrieve the bodies.
Elsewhere in the region, there were reports of house collapses in Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag and Shopian with the number of houses reported to be damaged to be over 100. However, no loss of life was reported.
Earlier during the day government declared Kashmir to be flood-hit following incessant rains due to which the water level in Jhelum rose consistently. The water level had risen above danger mark at Ram Munshi Bagh and Sangam, but as the rains stopped during the day government later stated that the water level has “either receded or become static”.
Officials of Irrigation and Flood Control Department Kashmir said Jhelum has crossed danger mark of 18ft and 22 ft at Ram Munshibagh and Sangam respectively due to incessant rains during the night.
Following this government declared that Kashmir has been flooded and people living in low lying areas, especially in and around Jhelum were advised to move to safer areas.
The divisional administration asked the employees deployed for flood control duty to report at their respective beats and issued the advisory asking people living on the banks of Jhelum to remain alert and vigilant. “Old infirm and children may move to safer places,” the advisory read.
A senior government official said relief-cum-rescue camps were notified at different areas in Srinagar besides Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) Pampore for rehabilitating people affected due to floods.
During the evening, government stated that water level in Jhelum which had touched the flood level at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh is “showing a declining or static trend.’’ Giving details, an official spokesman said that the water level at 11 am at Sangam was 22.3 feet while at Ram –Munshi Bagh it touched 19.5 feet and at Asham it was recorded to be 11.04 feet. Within one hour the water level at Sangam was recorded at 22.2 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh 19.50 feet and 11.83 at Asham.
The level came down to 22 feet at Sangam at 1 pm but went up to 19.6 feet at Ram–Munshi Bagh and 11.9 at Asham, while at 2 pm it receded at Sangam to 21.55 feet, rose to 19.7 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh and 12 feet at Asham. At 5 pm the water level at Sangam was 21 feet, at Ram- Munshi Bagh 19.7 feet and at Asham 12.33 feet.
IGP, Kashmir, Gilani said advisory was issued to the people not to endanger themselves by visiting areas near the nullahs and rivers.
“We evacuated many families living near the river banks,” he added.