J&K floods: 400 villages inundated

SRINAGAR: At least 400 villages were submerged in Jammu and Kashmir where seven more persons lost their lives taking the toll to 13 although there were no fresh rains since last evening and flood waters started receding.

Water level of almost all rivers and streams started receding with no fresh rains since Sunday evening but over 300 houses and shops were damaged as 400 villages in the state continued to reel under flood waters, officials said.

They said three members of a family -- a woman and her son and daughter died when their house collapsed at Tandar in Chenani area of Udhampur district on Sunday.

A 12-year-old girl of the same family was injured and later admitted to Udhampur hospital, they said.

Another woman was killed in house collapse following heavy rains in Pouni area of the same district, the sources said.

They said two people, who went gather firewood, lost their lives in different incidents in Anantnag district.

One person was washed away while collecting firewood in the flooded Lidder river in Ganeshpora while another man who was accompanying the former was rescued.

In another incident, one person was drowned in Batapora while another person was rescued. On Saturday, six members of a family were killed when their house collapsed in Kathua.

Officials said water level of river Jhelum upstream Sangam which was flowing nearly 12 feet above danger mark has receded and was flowing just nine feet above danger mark on Monday.

Similarly downstream at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, the water has started receding. It was two feet above danger mark at 6 pm at Ram Munshi Bagh. Further downstream at Asham in Baramulla, water level was flowing three feet above danger mark now, they said.

They said with further improvement in the weather the flood situation will improve further.

However, they said the administration has not lowered the guard and continued engaged in relief and rescue operations.

Army and CRPF are also engaged in rescue and relief operations in the worst affected Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla and Srinagar districts, they added.

Governor S K Sinha accompanied by flood control minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir on Monday visited flood hit areas in Srinagar periphery and took stock of measures being taken for the affected people.

The Governor had a long interaction with flood sufferers at Latipora and Lasjan who told him that army, police and civil administration rendered immediate help to the sufferers and rescued the marooned to safer places.

Sinha went in the army boat to the badly hit areas and apprised the Governor about the flood damage saying that standing crops were almost totally damaged due to gushing floodwaters.

The Flood Control Minister said each area has been placed under the supervision of teams of army, police and civil administration and the situation was being constantly monitored at the apex level. He said the assistance whatsoever being sought from the affected areas is being rushed immediately and efforts are on to dewater the interiors in Srinagar and semi-urban areas.

Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar informed the Governor that 68,000 people of 86 villages have been affected due to floods in Srinagar district alone, of whom 3300 were evacuated to safer places.

As many as 72 boats have been pressed into service to rescue the marooned people, he said.

Forest Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal who is monitoring the situation in Pulwama district said 60 villages have been affected in the district. However, no casualty has been reported from any part of the district.

However, he said there has been a colossal damage to the crop, infrastructure, cattle and dwelling houses of the people.

The minister said air force and army are also coordinating with the civil administration to meet any exigency. 70 Boats have been kept available to reach to the marooned people.

Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo said 20 trucks loaded with rice, two trucks with kerosene oil and 1100 blankets and 250 kitchen sets are kept available for distribution among the affected people.

Heavy rains also damaged about 150 houses in different areas of Udhampur district, sources said adding one bridge and 10 houses were also damaged due to rains in Bani area of Kathua district.

Reports from Doda district said that 40 shops and 20 houses were also damaged due to rains in Sangaldhan area on Ramban-Gool road, they said.

Several other road links in Jammu division, which remained closed due to landslides and rains on Sunday, were opened on Monday for vehicular traffic.