Flood fury in Jammu & Kashmir

Relentless rain and flash floods have wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir, killing at least 20 people since Wednesday and triggering fears that scores more may have perished in a bus washed away by a surge. A BSF inspector and an army sepoy, who was part of a relief effort, were among the 20 victims confirmed dead by deputy chief minister Tara Chand. A dozen of the deaths occurred in Jammu, the rest in Kashmir. But attention remained focused on the bus washed away in Jammu’s Rajouri. Conflicting accounts emerged over how many people were in the vehicle, which was carrying a marriage party. A defence spokesperson said it had 50 passengers, while additional deputy commissioner Mohammad Salim Malik put the number at 60-70. “The bus lies submerged in a stream, which has turned into a river. We haven’t been able to rescue any person,” Malik said. BSF inspector Mohammad Rasheed died after his post on the LoC was hit by a landslide in Jammu’s Poonch, where a bridge (in picture above) collapsed because of the floods. Balbir, the army sepoy, was killed while rescuing residents. Key rivers Jhelum and Chenab were flowing above the danger mark. In Srinagar, water entered the ground floors of houses in several areas, forcing the residents to shift to upper stories. Chief minister Omar Abdullah’s convoy driving through a submerged street in Srinagar (picture on top). The Met office said the downpour would continue till Saturday.

REPORT BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT; PICTURES BY PTI

DEATH, DESTRUCTION

Flood situation worsens across Kashmir

Govt issues fresh advisory; Jhelum crosses record 23-feet mark in Srinagar; Weather to improve from today: MeT dept

ARIF SHAFI WANI

Srinagar, Sep 6: The flood situation continued to worsen in Kashmir on Saturday following heavy rains across the Valley, with the Government putting the overall death toll due to flashfloods and rains in the State at 106. The Government also said over 2000 villages have been affected by the floods in the State. 
In view of the rising water levels in river Jhelum, the authorities issued a fresh advisory asking people living close to river embankments and low-lying areas to move to safer places.
Incessant rains Saturday led to increase in water level in river Jhelum which was already flowing above the danger mark. In Srinagar, Jhelum crossed the record 23-feet mark at Ram Munshi Bagh—five feet above the danger mark while the water level at Sangam in Anantnag was recorded at over 33 feet. 
The flood water spilled over to many low-lying areas including Mehjoor Nagar, Chanapora and Natipora in Srinagar after a breach in the Jhelum embankment at Padshah Bagh.  
“We had three days back asked the people to move to safer places, but they did not pay any heed to our pleas. This has not only endangered their lives but made the rescue operation difficult,” said a senior government official. 
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal termed the flood situation as “worrisome.” “In the wake of rising water level in river Jhelum, we have issued fresh advisory for people living near the river embankments and low-lying areas, asking them to move to safer places,” he told Greater Kashmir.
He said the government is making all efforts to undertake rescue operation in affected areas. “However loss of road connectivity to several flood hit areas is hampering the rescue operation. We airdropped the National Disaster Response Force team in Awantipora to undertake rescue operation. Other NDRF teams are undertaking rescue operation in Pulwama, Srinagar and Budgam,” Kansal said.
South Kashmir, which is worst hit due to floods, remained completely cut off from rest of the Valley for the third consecutive day Saturday. Reports said people in South Kashmir are facing immense problems as road connectivity and communication link to its districts has been snapped.
“South Kashmir districts are cut-off as roads leading to it are submerged due to flood waters while many bridges and culverts have been damaged. If weather improves, we will press helicopters into service to airlift the stranded passengers form the South Kashmir districts,” Kansal added. 
Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control department, Javid Jaffar said incessant rains led to increase in water level in Jhelum. “Jhelum crossed record 23-feet mark in Srinagar today. We are closely monitoring the situation in vulnerable areas. However, people living close of Jhelum and streams should move to safer places to avoid any untoward incident,” he said. 
‘WEATHER TO IMPROVE FROM SUNDAY’
 Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus said weather is likely to improve from Sunday. “The rain system over Kashmir has weakened. The weather is likely to improve in Kashmir from Sunday while light to moderate rain is expected in some places,” he said. 
‘HAJJ FLIGHTS POSTPONED’
In view of the inclement weather, the State Hajj Committee postponed all Hajj flights scheduled up to September 12. “The new dates for these flights would be notified later on,” an official spokesman said.
Police said more than 10,000 persons have been relocated to safer places in flood-hit areas of Kashmir.
PANIC GRIPS SRINAGAR
Panic gripped several areas of Dal lake when rumors spread that government plans to divert flood waters of Jhelum in the water body. Chaotic scenes were witnessed at Dalgate and its adjoining areas when water level abruptly went up by over a feet in Dal lake, submerging lanes and by-lanes in its low-lying areas.
The worried inhabitants started to move to upper floors of their houses. Later authorities dismissed the reports of diverting flood waters of Jhelum into the Dal as “rumours.”
“There is no such plan as it will be catastrophic to divert the flood waters into the Dal which is already flowing above the danger mark. People should not pay heed to rumors,” said a senior official of civil administration.
Greater Kashmir received scores of calls from various areas including Batwara, Bemina and Raj Bagh about breach in river Jhelum embankments. However, officials, who made spot assessment to these areas, dismissed these reports as rumours. “There are chances that flood waters of Jhelum might get spilled over to some areas through some weak points on the embankments, but our teams are round-the-clock monitoring the situation,” Javid Jaffar said.
SRINAGAR-JAMMU HIGHWAY CLOSED
The 300-km Jammu-Srinagar Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the third consecutive day due to landslides at various places, police said.
The highway was closed on Thursday. Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers, were stranded on the highway consequently, they said.
Men and machines of the Border Roads Organization were working to clear the highway, they added.
GANDERBAL
Cloudbursts hit upper reaches of Kangan area in this central Kashmir district Saturday, leading to increase in the water level of nallah Sindh and consequently causing damage to properties, officials said.
Seven bridges over nallah Sindh were also washed away while three houses collapsed as flood water entered many villages in the district.
In Kangan Tehsil, makeshift bridges over nallah Sindh connecting many villages with Srinagar-Leh highway were washed away at Hung Park, Yachama, Ramwari, Hilpati, Plapora, Satrina and Tangcheter.
The water level increased in Sindh as also many small streams adjoining it at Sonamarg, Rezan, Surfraw and Balti Kulan.  A makeshift bridge over Bramsar nallah was also washed away in Chhatergul. The flood water breached embankment at Gagangeer, Kasana Pati, Mamar, Cherwan, Cheki Akhal and Preng. Three houses collapsed due to incessant rains at Fraw in upper Kangan area.
In Lar tehsil, flood water submerged localities at Watalbagh. In Ganderbal tehsil, flood water of nallah Sindh entered Devpora, Korag, Pati-saloora, Narainbagh, Pati-Shalbug and Gund Roshan.
Authorities in Ganderbal areas announced through public address system that the residents living on the banks of nallah Sindh should leave for safer places.
The flood water also submerged many areas along the Srinagar-Leh highway. When contacted, Sarmad Hafiz, DC Ganderbal, told Greater Kashmir they are on job and making every possible effort to save life and property in flood-hit areas.
“We have sounded a red alert in the flood-prone areas and have asked the people living on the banks of nallah Sindh to leave for places,” he said.
Police said  10 tourist couples were rescued from Nitchnaie area of Sonamarg tourist resort here.
BANDIPORA
Police and civil authorities rescued 25 families after increasing water level in Wular Lake submerged part of Leharwalpora village in Bandipora. said Deputy Superintendent of Police Bandipora Raja Zuhaib.
Residents in Zoorimanz, Nowgam, Zalpora, Kanyari Kulhama and other low-lying villages have been asked to remain cautious as water level is massively increasing in the Wular Lake, officials said.
Meanwhile, about eight houses were damaged when a landslide hit Risihwari village of Quil Muqam Bandipora.
BARAMULLA
About 60 structures including 10 residential houses were damaged in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Most of the villages at Wagoora block located close to embankments of Ningli Nallah have been damaged due to flashfloods, reports said. Around seven bridges in the area had been completely washed away and the entire area is cut-off from the Tehsil headquarters, they added.
The district administration has started to rehabilitate the affected families—some of whom have been settled in hospitals and schools. 
Meanwhile in Uri area of north Kashmir, dozens of villages remained continuously disconnected from the Tehsil headquarters.
KUPWARA
The overflowing Lolab Nallah and Kehmil Nallah have damaged Bangargund bridge in Kupwara, reports said. Scores of villages have been waterlogged and some are even cut-off from rest of the valley, they added.
Incessant rains also damaged Government Boys Primary School at Mitbagh and washed away a foot bridge connecting it with Kalaroos.
Reports said flood threat is looming large in localities alongside the Nallah Kehmil and its adjoining streams. 
Police said 13 families hit by flashfloods were rescued by them from Badpora, Dar Mohalla and Sholre in Kupwara. “All the families have been shifted to safer places,” a police spokesman said.
SOUTH KASHMIR
Due to snapping of communication links to south Kashmir, ground situation could not be ascertained.
An Army official said seven out of its nine personnel trapped in strong water currents of Jhelum river in flood-affected Pulwama district were rescued Saturday while two others are still trapped.
A boat carrying a team of Army personnel, who were on relief and rescue operation in Pampore area of Pulwama district, capsized and the personnel were trapped in strong water currents in Jhelum river, the official said.
(With inputs from Mir Tariq, Shahid Rafiq, Altaf Baba, Mir Tariq, Sheikh Nazir.)