Srinagar: Following breaches in the embankments of the River Jhelum at Zonipora and Shalina in Budgam, which led to flooding in several low-lying areas of Srinagar and Budgam districts, Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Anshul Garg, visited the affected regions to oversee relief and rescue operations.
Accompanied by IGP Kashmir and the Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar & Budgam, Div Com visited Lasjan and Nowgam to assess the situation and ensure that coordinated efforts were underway to safeguard residents.
Speaking on the occasion, Div Com said, “Early this morning, breaches occurred in the Jhelum embankments at Zonipora in Budgam, resulting in flooding of nearby areas. However, as a precautionary measure, we had already evacuated around 9,000 people last night, which helped in preventing any loss of life.”
He further added that the weather conditions have started to improve, especially in South Kashmir, and most areas are currently experiencing clear skies.
“Water levels at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh are receding, which is a positive sign,” he stated.
He added that relief and rescue teams including personnel from the SDRF, NDRF, police, and revenue departments are actively engaged in operations in affected low-lying areas, ensuring timely assistance to residents.
“To ensure proper coordination and effective on-ground response, senior officials of divisional administration & district administrations are present on the spots,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of public cooperation, Div Com appreciated the support from the people and said that continuous announcements are being made to keep the public alert and informed.
He also shared updates on evacuation efforts, stating that evacuations have been carried out in six villages of Budgam, while preventive evacuations are underway in Srinagar. He urged people to avoid venturing into low-lying areas as a safety measure.
Later in the day, Div Com along with Deputy Commissioner Budgam visited Shalina to inspect ongoing relief and mitigation efforts, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to supporting all affected residents.
Meanwhile, Police rescued and evacuated nearly 200 families from flood-affected areas of Srinagar district as flood fears in rest of the valley eased slightly following receding of water level in Jhelum on Thursday.
The district police have also formed quick reaction teams to actively provide assistance to stranded citizens, a police spokesperson said.
“In response to the ongoing flood-like situation and heavy waterlogging in various parts of the city, Srinagar Police, in close coordination with SDRF and River Police, has activated a comprehensive evacuation and relocation plan to safeguard the lives and well-being of affected citizens,” he said.
The spokesperson said teams from concerned police stations, along with River Police and SDRF units, have been deployed under the supervision of territorial officers across multiple vulnerable locations in the district.
“These teams have successfully evacuated and relocated nearly 200 families and individuals from the severely impacted areas which included 24 families and houseboat dwellers who were rescued from Peerzo Island and Basant Bagh,” he said.
According to the spokesperson, 39 families were evacuated from Bonyarbal, S R Gunj, Malik Sahib, Safakadal, Pamposh Colony, Noorbagh, Guzarbal, and Madanyar Fateh Kadal, reports from different agencies, including our reporters, said.
“Around 20 families and individuals were evacuated and relocated from Dedi Kadal, Habba Kadal, Zaindar Mohalla, Tankipora, Karan Nagar, Kursoo, Iqbal Colony, and Aramwari, while 20 families were rescued from Tailbal and vulnerable areas of Hazratbal,” he added.
The spokesperson said 63 individuals were rescued and relocated from Panzinara-Mujgund, Bund Side, Maloora Bund, Khawajabagh Bund, Parimpora Bund, Bilal Colony Bund, Qamarwari, Rampora Chattabal Bund, Zenpora, and Tengan.
GoI deputes inter-ministerial team to assess actual scale of damage
The Central government has deputed an inter-ministerial team to pay detailed on-ground visits to the flood-affected districts in the Jammu region in the next four days and assess the actual scale of losses and damage caused by recent rains.
This was revealed at a high-level meeting chaired by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, and the inter-ministerial team head and National Disaster Management Authority of India Joint Secretary Col Kirti Pratap Singh here on Wednesday night.
The meeting was held to discuss the scale of damages caused by the recent cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides in Jammu region.
“Over the next four days, the inter-ministerial team will conduct detailed on-ground visits to the affected areas to assess the actual scale of losses and damages in the districts of Jammu division. It shall then submit a detailed report to the Government of India,” a government spokesperson said.
The Central team comprises officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Finance.
During the meeting, a detailed PowerPoint presentation was given, explaining the scale of damages to private property, public infrastructure and loss of lives, the spokesperson said.
The Divisional Commissioner apprised the members of the Central team about the affected areas and the extent of damages caused to essential infrastructure, including roads, power supply, and water supply schemes.
He also briefed about the efforts being made to save precious lives with the assistance and support of security forces, emergency responders, National Disaster Response Force, Union Territory Disaster Response Force, Police, Army, and Central Armed Police Forces.
At the meeting, the officials also discussed the challenging situation arising due to incessant rains, flash floods, and landslides. “Discussions were held on damage to roads, power infrastructure, water supply, and the efforts being made to restore the same,” the spokesperson said.
In view of the prevailing weather conditions and the emerging flood situation in Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo also chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review and sensitise the divisional and district administrations about preparedness and response measures.
During the meeting, Dulloo took a detailed review of the availability and functioning of essential services, including health, power and telecom across the Valley.
He stressed that uninterrupted supply of essential commodities such as food grains, cooking gas and fuel to the public must be ensured.
Emphasising the importance of preventive action, the chief secretary directed all deputy commissioners to identify vulnerable areas and initiate precautionary evacuation wherever required.
He underscored the need for the administration to remain in close contact with the public and extend timely assistance.(PTI)
Jammu-Srinagar nat’l highway, other vital roads remain closed for traffic
Kashmir Valley remained cut off from the rest of the country as all surface links, including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, were closed for traffic on Thursday due to multiple landslides and the washing away of road patches due to rains.
The closure of highways and other inter-regional roads since August 26 has resulted in over 3,500 vehicles getting stuck at various places from Kathua to Kashmir. The highway was partially reopened on Monday for facilitating the movement of some stranded vehicles.
“The Jammu-Srinagar highway, Mughal Road and Sinthan Road are closed for vehicular movement due to landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones at several places,” a traffic police officer said.
Besides this, important highways, including the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway and the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway, are shut for traffic in view of landslides and the washing away of portions of roads.
With the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway, Mughal Road, Sinthan-Anantnag Road, Jammu-Poonch highway and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway, all surface connectivity to Kashmir Valley has been cut off, officials said.
“Jammu-Srinagar is closed for vehicular movement from Jakhani in Udhampur towards Srinagar and vice versa due to the road being damaged at multiple places. No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar and vice versa,” the traffic police advisory said.
It said commuters belonging to Katra and Udhampur town are requested to keep their photo ID cards to prove their identification so that their movement can be facilitated smoothly.
Restoration work is underway at affected places in the Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal section on a war footing, they said.
The most affected areas include Shalgadi, Nachilana, Panthyal, Maroog and Peerah in Ramban–Banihal, where retaining walls and stretches of road have been washed away, and a heavy landslide has even entered one tube of the Peerah tunnel.
In the Udhampur sector, around 10 km of road between Jakhani, Thara D, Balli Nallah and Dewal has been affected, they said.
Over 3,500 vehicles are stranded at various places in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban and Kashmir Valley due to the closure of the highway, they said.
The Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch National Highway has remained closed since Wednesday night at Chowki Choura near the Kandi tunnel, they said. Over 400 vehicles are stranded due to the damaged road surface, they added.
Efforts are on to restore the highway to reconnect Rajouri and Poonch besides facilitating the movement of essential services, they said.
The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway is also closed following landslides in the Pul Doda area, resulting in the stranding of several vehicles, they said. Over 200 vehicles are stranded at various places.
Similarly, the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag highway is closed for vehicular movement, they said, adding that Mughal Road has also been shut.
Kashmir’s connectivity with the rest of the country currently relies solely on air travel, with flights operating from Srinagar airport, and the railway network that extends from Katra to Srinagar. The region depends on road transport, particularly the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which serves as the main lifeline for essential supplies, passenger movement, and trade.
Besides this, several inter-district roads in Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Reasi remain shut due to landslides and falling boulders, they said. (With inputs from PTI)
