At least 10 people died and several were injured on Tuesday as incessant heavy rains left a trail of destruction to public and private property in Jammu and Kashmir.
Five people died and 14 were injured following a landslide near Adh Kunwari en route to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Trikuta Hills near Katra town of Reasi district.
The yatra had been suspended on the Himkoti trek route since morning, sources said, adding the victims had taken shelter under an iron shed in view of the rain. After the incident, the Shrine Board decided to suspend yatra on the old traditional route as well till further orders.
Doda Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh said that of the four other victims, two died in a house collapse and two after they slipped and fell into a nullah during flash floods.
The rain fury prompted the administration to suspend traffic on many roads, including the Jammu-Srinagar and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar national highways. Vehicles were also barred from the Jammu-Poonch highway following landslides at various places.
Singh said there was no cloudburst, but rather incessant rains that had lashed the area for the past three days. The rain was at its peak on Tuesday morning, he added.
Likewise, roads between Doda-Bhaderwah, Thathri-Tanta and Dhara-Jai have been closed for vehicular traffic following reports of damage to some portions. Seventeen houses and some government property have been damaged, while three foot bridges have been washed away.
Most of the damage has been reported in the Mamat and Gandoh areas of Doda, he said.
The Tawi River in Jammu city was flowing at 27 ft, which is 10 ft above the danger mark. Chenab at Akhnoor was flowing at 35.6 ft, half a foot above the danger level.
Teams of the SDRF, police and civil administration were pressed into action, asking people to move out of low-lying areas on the banks of the Tawi and Chenab. India, as a humanitarian gesture, had alerted Pakistan on Sunday about a possible flood in the former.
In Jammu city, several areas were waterlogged, with water entering residences and shops. Authorities have ordered the closure of government and private schools in Jammu province on Wednesday.
CM takes stock
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, meanwhile, chaired an emergency meeting to review the situation in Jammu.
“The relief and restoration works will proceed strictly as per SDRF norms. However, wherever additional requirements arise beyond these norms, I will personally ensure that further provisions are made available,” he told officers.
He instructed the administration to ensure a timely supply of food, clean drinking water, medicines and other essentials to those affected. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and patients, must receive priority assistance, he said.
Source: The Indian Express
