Flash floods in Jammu parts, Sgr-Jmu highway remain closed, Kashmir temp dips to 22 degrees Celsius; weatherman predicts improvement in weather from Aug 28
Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Aug 26: A 35-year-old man was killed while as dozens of livestock perished due to landslides triggered in Jammu parts as incessant rains lashed the UT on Wednesday.
The only road link connecting Srinagar with Jammu—national highway, remained closed for the vehicular traffic due to series of landslides triggered at various vulnerable points.
A 35-year-old man was killed after a fresh landslide triggered by heavy rainfall hit Kotli village of Manjkote in Rajouri district, officials said. However, the weatherman here has predicted more rains for the next 24 hours across Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a landslide hit Kotli village area of Manjakote in Rajouri district in which a 35-year-old Shokit, son of Mohammad Hussain of Kallar village of Mendhar was killed.
“His body was removed from the debris site by locals of the area,” said officials.
Similarly, many animals are feared to have perished in an incident of cattle shed collapse in Sangiote village near Balakote in Poonch district area. The rescue operation by locals was going on, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, the officials said that heavy rainfall has triggered flash floods in most of the rivers and small water bodies of Rajouri, creating panic among the masses.
They said that in many areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts, the authorities have sounded alert and have asked the people not to venture near the water bodies due to the rise in water level.
Meanwhile, incessant rainfall in the Valley has brought relief among the people from scorching heat as the Valley has witnessed prolonged dry spell.
The temperature in Srinagar as per the local Meteorological department (MeT) had gone down by 10 degrees today as compared to yesterday’s temperature. The officials in the MeT said that Srinagar recorded a temperature of 22.6 degree Celsius today.
He said Srinagar recorded 32.9 degree Celsius temperature yesterday.
Meanwhile, Director MeT, Sonum Lotus told KNO that there is possibility of more rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir till August 27 evening, saying that the weather conditions would improve from August 28 morning.
However, the incessant rainfall also triggered flash floods in some areas of the Valley.
According to the officials, a Water Supply Scheme got washed away due to flash floods triggered by incessant rainfall in Gurez area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, adding that Barnai-Tulai road in Gurez area was also blocked due to the landslide, thus affecting the vehicular movement in the area.
The flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall washed away the Water Supply Scheme in Barnia area while the landslides triggered by the heavy rainfall has also damaged a road in Burnai, Gurez Sub-Division, they said.
Sub District Magistrate (SDM) Gurez, Mudasir Ahmad said the men and machinery has been pressed to restore the road and to restore the damaged water supply scheme.
Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu highway continued to remain closed for the second consecutive day on Wednesday following the landslides triggered by the heavy rainfall.
Over 3000 vehicles are stranded near Qazigund as the highway has remained closed for vehicular movement today, IG Traffic T Namgyal told KNO.
“The road clearance work is going on. But, the shooting stones and landslides are still occurring at Panthal and Dalwas areas due to which the work has got hampered. The roads will be cleared soon,” he said—(KNO)
