Extensive damage to infrastructure in south Kashmir
- Many bridges, houses damaged; 10 nomads rescued by Army
- Hundreds of people shift to safer places
After incessant rainfall since yesterday, many low lying areas in South Kashmir were flooded, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and public property. There were, however, no reports of any loss of life or injuries.
Kulgam district was the worst hit with hundreds of families forced to evacuate their dwellings and move to safer places.
In Kulgam district, Nallah Vaishaw was overflowing with menacing force, which submerged many areas in the district.
People in Aadigatnu, Laisu Gudder, Asthal, Manigam, Yaripora, Frisal, Chambgund, Devsar and other villages were forced to relocate after their houses were submerged or faced imminent threat of inundation.
“People moved to safer places along with their livestock and valuables,” locals told .
The Manigam village was inundated after a cloud burst in Wyethoo Nallah raised its water levels. People were forced to leave their houses and move to safer places.
The district administration had to call Army to carry out a rescue operation in Chambgund village in the periphery of main town Kulgam.
Reports said 12 nomads were stranded on an island in Nallah Vaishaw and it took army over three hours to rescue 10 of them. Two others refused to leave the area.
“I have directed the concerned SHO to get remaining two people evacuated also,” DC Kulgam, Ravinder Kumar Bhat told .
People in many parts were seen returning to their villages after water level started to recede.
In Yaripora and Frisal area, district administration has pressed fire tenders into service to pump out the water from these villages.
Bhat said that many bridges and road links have either been washed away or damaged by the flash floods.
Adijan bridge connecting DH Pora with Kulgam, Chambgund Bridge, Brazloo Bridge and Nihama DH Pora Bridge have been washed away.
“Many road diversions created after bridges were damaged in last year’s floods have also been washed away,” DC Kulgam said.
He said district administration was facing an arduous task in restoring all the road links. “We are on our toes.”
Few water schemes were also damaged due to the floods
“The damaged water schemes would be restored within next few days,” DC said.
Some residential houses and a government school building were damaged in Lassipora Gudder area of Kulgam district.
In Mirhama village, many apple orchards, mainstay of area’s economy, have been completely damaged.
The Anantnag district remained comparatively lesser affected. However, many areas in the district were either submerged or inundated due to defunct drainage systems.
Lal Chowk, Monghaal, Rooh, Danter, Larkipora in Dooru, Zadoora and Mirbazar areas in Qazigund area, Bakshiabad and Mattan Chowk in main town Anantnag were either submerged or inundated.
Worst affected in Anantnag district, however, were Hassanpora, Hussainpora, Shamsipora and Arwini villages, where the floods last September had created havoc.
The areas remained submerged and people were displaced.
People accused government of sitting on the imminent flood threats and doing nothing concrete to prevent any untoward scenario.
In Anantnag town, people blamed encroachments over springs and irrigation canals for inundation due to slightest of rainfall.
“The irresponsible garbage dumping by Municipal authorities on banks of Aripath Nallah has also created blockage and subsequent submerging of many parts in Anantnag town and its peripheries,” they said.
The water of Jhelum submerged Srinagar-Jammu road at many places in South Kashmir including at Kadlabal area, hampering traffic movement.
