* Jhelum breaches at several places
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 6: As Kashmir valley continued to be lashed by heavy rains, the flood situation worsened today breaching river Jhelum and its tributaries at several places and inundating several villages and localities of Srinagar city.
An official spokesman said that 13, 000 flood victims were relocated after their houses were inundated by rising flood waters. Authorities said Army, Police, SDRF, NDRF that once the weather improves Indian Air Force will join the rescue operation of the people stranded in flood hit areas.
A breach in river Jhelum this morning at Pampore inundated several villages in the outskirts of Srinagar and city localities including Natipora, Chanpora, Lasjan, Padshahi Bagh Mehjoor Nagar. The second breach occurred near Padshahi Bagh and in an hour’s time entire Mehjoor Nagar was under 10-15 feet water.
The authorities made announcements in the locality asking residents to flee to safety as the locality was under flood threat. Some of the residents had already left the locality as water level rose while others were rescued by using boats.
Kakapora, Pampore and several other localities were inundated this morning after Jhelum breached. Boats were pressed into service to rescue people stranded in their homes. People have been shifted to schools, college and building.
Rescue teams were dispatched to flood hit areas of Pantha Chowk, Lasjan, Zewan, in Srinagar. Dry ration has been distributed by police at Pantha Chowk, Parimpora and Lasjan. Tents were distributed in Parimpora, Noor Bagh and Lasjan.
In adjacent Ganderbal district cloud bursts in upper reaches of Kangan increased the water level in river Sindh passing causing damage to the properties and agriculture fields.
Seven bridges over river Sindh were washed away, three house collapsed and the flooded water entered many villages inundating them.
In Kangan Tehsil makeshift bridges over river 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 the streams connecting Sindh at Sonamrag, Rezan, Surfraw and Balti Kulan witnessed heavy flow of watef. The make shift bridge over Bramsar Nallah was also washed away in Chatergul and water entered the locality.
Sindh was overflowing at Gagangeer, Kasana Pati, Mamar, Cherwan, Cheki Akhal and Preng. Four houses of Abdul Rashid Paswal, Abdul Aziz Khatana, Ghulam Nabi Kalas and Shah Wali Kalas of Fraw collapsed due to incessant rains in upper Kangan area.
In Lar Tehsil the water submerged the localaties at Watalbagh.
In Ganderbal Tehsil the water of Sindh enetered Devpora, Korag, Pati-Saloora, Narainbagh, Pati-Shalbug and Gund Roshan.The water level was just one foot below from the compound of mini-secretariat Ganderbal.
Authorities in Ganderbal asked the residents living on the banks of Nallah Sindh to shift towards safer places.
Several remote villages in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district remained cut off today. The overflowing Lolab Nallah and Kehmil Nallah damaged Khumriyal Bridge and Bangargund Bridge restricting normal movement of the people.
Authorities sealed off the bridge for vehicular movements since yesterday morning. Reports reaching here said that scores of villages are waterlogged and some are even cut-off from rest of the Valley. Incessant rains also caused damage to a Government Boys Primary School at Mitbagh and washed away a local foot-path bridge connecting it with Kalaroos.
Flood threat is looming over localities alongside the Nallah Kehmil, Lolab Nallah, Nallah Khorhama, Nallah Kalaroos, Nallah Hayhama and Nallah Kohru. These Nallahs are overflowing due to heavy rains. The areas that face flood threat are Kulangam, Wudhpora, Chogal, Unisoo, Shartgund, Langate Kohroo, Awatkul, Arampora, Nutnussa, Bramrie, Check Drugmulla, Pushwari, Padergund, Hanjipora, Bohipora Kupwara, Ghoos, Bedibera, Shumeriyal, Kanthpora-B and Potushay.
Reports said that nearly half a dozen bridges including that of Sulkoot, Bhatnaad, Shalgund, Malgund, Shumeriyal and Kalaroos villages of Lolab Assembly segment and a diversion bridge on Handwara Baramulla road at Batgund are under water.
Disruption of roads connectivity has restricted the movement of people at Kulpora Sulkkoot, Dal, Madmadav, Rangdar, Lushteyal Tawheed Mohala, Shumeriyal, Bhatnaad, Gratnaad, Shrant, Dhoban, Malgund Khorhama, Ophen, and Gundmachar areas.
Many villages including, Bangergund, Padergund, Bohipora, Arampora, Mattipora, Jagarpora, Bramrie, Wudhpora, Kulangam, Nutnussa, Shumeriyal, Khumeriyal and Regipora were partially submerged as last reports poured in.
Around 20 villages in Kupwara have been affected by flood and people in many villages have been taken to safer places. Boats have been utilized and kept ready to evacuate marooned populations besides thousands of sand bags have also been utilized for embankment of flood water.
Authorities appealed people living in land slide prone areas of Karnah, Keran and Machhil to take precautions while venturing out.
Anantnag district has been the worst hit due to floods and residents allege that administration failed to rescue them.
In the mean time upper reaches in Kashmir valley received fresh snow adding to the sufferings of the people already tormented by floods triggered by incessant rain during the last five days.
Reports said that many families of Nomads were trapped at Vishnosar in Sonmarg in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal after the passage connect the area with the rest of the State was cut off due to snow.
The families trapped in the area are in immediate need of essential commodities and medicines, they said, adding scores of live stock, including sheeps and goats, died.
Fresh snow was experienced on the upper reaches of Budgam, making the situation worse for thousands of people trapped in many villages around Tosamadam after a bridge collapsed due to flash floods.
They said snow was also experienced in the upper reaches of Gurez in north Kashmir district in Bandipora.
Fresh snowfall was also received at Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Pisso top, Panjterni and holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery. However, Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional yatra route and Pahalgam received rains
A Police spokesman said that they in collaboration with civil administration and security forces have relocated more than 13,000 persons from flood hit areas across Kashmir.
Police along with SDRF/ NDRF has launched a massive rescue operation in Kakapora and Pampore areas of South Kashmir where the flood situation has worsened after the Jehlum water spill. Large number of boats has been pressed into service to rescue people stranded in their houses. People have been shifted to schools and college premises. Rescue operations are still going on in the area. About 2000 persons were rescued from Kakapora area of Pulwama till last reports came in.
Police said that several rescue teams have been dispatched to the many affected areas particularly Pantha Chowk, Lasjan and Zewan, in Srinagar. Tents have been distributed in Parimpora, Noor Bagh and Lasjan. Dry ration has been distributed by police at Pantha Chowk, Parimpora and Lasjan.
In Budgam, many affected families have been rescued in Magam area. Rescue operation is going on in Peer Bagh and Naar Kara areas of Budgam. Narbal, Sozeth, Gagarpora, Kawoosa, Magam and several other localities were inundated and people were rescued by locals with the help of Army.
Police said in Sonamarg 10 tourist couples were rescued from Nitchnaie.
About 500 people have been rescued from nearby flood hit areas of Nowgam and relocated in Railway Station, Nowgam.
Police said 13 families hit by flash flood were rescued by police from Badpora, Dar Mohalla and Sholre in Kupwara. All the families have been shifted to safer places.
Srinagar police established a community Langar for people displaced by the foods at Boatman Colony and Fruit Mandi in Parimpora area. More than 350 persons were provided lunch today.
IR-20 have rescued 17 families comprising of 124 person and 25 orphan children from Yateem trust Singhpora Pattan and have been shifted to Armed Police complex Parihaspora, Pattan, Baramulla.
Handwara police rescued the family of Ghulam Hassan Tali of Aadoora, Handwara and shifted them to safer place.
Ganderbal Police has launched a rescue work at Ahanger Mohalla, Gadoora, Coorag and Prang area.
In Baramulla, 192 families comprising of 4325 member from Shrakvara, Wangil, Kalantra, Kawxhek, Chopan Mohallah, wagoora and Dugdoar, in the jurisdiction of police station Kreeri have been shifted to safer places.
715 families comprising of 4325 persons from Gooligam, Mahrajpora, Hanjivera-Payeen, Malpora, Arampora, Bonin, Shall Aalambal. Kripalgrhm, gund khawaja Qasim, Janipora Mandyari, Habbak, Malmuchin, Toziharan village in Pattan area have been shifted to Safer places
192 families comprising 1450 persons from Danusayeedam Kunekchal, Parenpeela, Jabla, Balgund, Churanda, Sakidar, Nowpora, Saifp Qazi Chahla Mchra villages, in the jurisdiction of police station Uri have been shifted to safer places.
Police said 12 families comprising of 70 members from Bella Salamabad, Pranjutran Boniyar, in the jurisdiction of police station Boniyar have been shifted to safer places.
11 families comprising 55 persons from Gonipora, Braripora, Waskhura villages, in Handwara have been shifted to safer places.
20 families comprising 85 members from Champora, Bangurgund, Neelipora, Paddergund, Gund Momin villages, Vilgam Kupwara have been shifted to safer places.
12 families comprising 45 persons from Sonawari, Bicharwara, Iarganapora, Babgund and Khangund, Kralgund Kupwara have been shifted to safer places.
98 persons from Dukaba in Bomai Sopore were shifted to safer places.
79 families from wandakhpora, Takibal, Sangrampora in Sopore have been shifted to safer places.
Six families from Patoose, Nadihal, in Panzalla Bandipora have been shifted to safer places.
10 families comprising of 58 members from Haman Dazana, Pazalpora, Ahangerpora, Zethan, Behrampora, wartergam, Chijhama in Dangiwachi area of Baramulla have been shifted to safer places.
70 families comprising of about 300 persons from Haritar, Hygam, arbanbal, Panzipora, Tarzoo, Ningli, Ambergora, Krakshvan colony in Tarzoo area of Sopore were shifted to safer places.
In Anantnag, over 2000 people from Sakras, Diver, porden villages of Anantnag District have been rescued and shifted to safer places.
In Bandipora, 85 families comprising 548 persons have been shifted to safer places.
In Handwara, 74 family’s comprising of 465 persons from Handwara, Vilgam, Kralgund, Qalamabad, Langate, Chaogal, Zachaldara and Argam have been shifted to safer places.
An Army spokesman said that in view of the worsening flood situation in Kashmir and inundation of hundreds of villages, Army has intensified Mission Sahayata employing more than 60 Army columns and 13 Engineer teams tirelessly working to rescue precious lives trapped in flooded villages, isolated houses and multi-storied buildings in the inundated areas all over Kashmir. As the number of shelter less people is rising, Army is also providing tented accommodation to hundreds of people.
Army said that major flood rescue operations started on September 2, however, with increasing involvement, Mission Sahayata was launched to cover areas in entire Valley. First critical rescue mission was undertaken on September 2 when in an extraordinary display of bravery and commitment, a youth was rescued from Sindh River at Watalbagh village of Ganderbal. Since then, with every passing day, Army’s involvement in extremely challenging circumstances of rescue kept increasing.
The spokesman said that on September 4, eight major columns were employed for rescuing large number of families trapped in areas that had got trapped in inundated areas. Over 400 people were taken to safety. In addition to these, large number of people were assisted to relocate themselves, many vehicles stuck inside water were recovered and food packets were distributed.
The spokesman said that by September 5, there were 70 major columns and 12 Engineer teams operating in Kashmir and by the night over 5000 precious lives had been moved to safety. Army troops were working against all odds, endangering their own lives.
The spokesman said that on September 6, a column of Army operating at Kakapora of Pulwama District itself came under floods. While moving on a boat to place of safety, the boat carrying 11 personnel capsized and they got stranded.
The spokesman said that a helicopter based rescue mission was launched to rescue the stranded personnel, however, bad weather prevented execution of the mission and finally boats were used to reach.
“Till making of this report two soldiers were still stranded in the area. Such is the situation in certain areas of Kashmir that hundreds of families that moved into upper stories of their houses due to inundation of ground floor, are yet to be reached”, the spokesman added.
Joint Control Room and helpline centers established by Army in Kashmir are getting frantic calls from people and dispatching columns to rescue them. Bad weather, not allowing employment of helicopters, is further affecting the rescue mission.
The spokesman said that on September 6, on a request of the civil administration, Army is providing 50 tents in the Noorbagh area of Safakadal to accommodate hundreds of people stranded due to the floods.
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