Charari Sharief faces landslide threat, 66 families evacuated

Atleast 66 families in Charari Sharief have been shifted to safer locations by district administration in view of landslide threat, while around a dozen of houses are on the threshold to collapse across the Constituency due to incessant rains that lashed the valley.
As per reports, a portion of hillside above Chont Naad village of Charari Sharief has developed cracks causing impending threat to 36 houses. Eye witnesses said that inmates of the houses facing threat of sliding land fled their houses.
They said on receiving information a team of officers led by Incharge Tehsildar Mohammad Shaban from district administration visited the area to take stock of the situation.
“All the affected families have been provided temporary shelter in a government school,” Incharge Tehsildar said.
A total of 3 families from Hafat Naad village, 2 from Kakawring village, 13 from Tilsara village and 12 from Main Town have been shifted to safer places, Incharge Tehsildar said while giving details of the evacuation.
Meanwhile local shopkeepers around Shrine have started to shift goods in their shops to safer places fearing collapse of the hillock on the rear side.
“I carried all the material of the shop to my home to keep it safe,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper near Old Bus Stand.
The road connecting the town with Srinagar was closed in the morning due to heavy landslides and later road developed cracks around Gulshan Abad area halting the traffic.
“The drivers prefer to keep their vehicles in New Bus Stand rather than plying to shrine as half of the road has slid into the gorge,” said Suhail Malik, a driver.
Noorani Public School in the Trajbal area of the town has developed cracks in the rear side causing fear among the students.
“Till the school gets repaired, officials should declare it closed,” said a group of students.
Meanwhile the electric transmission to the town from last two days has not been repaired. Diesel generators have been started in the shrine to provide electric supply. Repeated attempts to contact JE Mohammad Jamaal could not materialize as his phone was switched off.
Naib Tehsildar Charari Sharief, Mohammad Shaban told over 50 families have been shifted to safer locations and administration has also made adequate arrangement for their food and other basic amenities.
He said administration has decided to keep the affected families in the shelters because of continuous threat of landslides and prediction of more rainfall in coming days.
Presently these families are staying in Government Model Degree College, Old Waqf School, Government Middle School Gulshan Abad and other schools.