Rains create havoc, flash floods damage Jammu roads

Traffic suspended on Jammu-Srinagar NH, Battery car track at Vaishno Devi suspended following landslides

14/08/2018

JAMMU, Aug 13: The overnight rains have created havoc in this winter capital of the state as flash floods damaged cars and roads in many parts of the city thus triggering protests and resentment from the locals.
The heavy rains lashed in the plains of Jammu on the intervening night of August 12-13, where more than a dozen vehicles including cars, motorbikes were partially damaged while the roads and lanes were also affected.
Areas like Janipura, Canal Road, Bhagwati Nagar, Talab Tillo, Jewel Chowk, Domana, New Plot were the most hit due to the heavy rains.
The locals, however, staged a protest and expressed resentment against the successive governments in failing to find out a permanent solution to their grievances as every year they face the similar problems.
As water entered many houses, the electronic gadgets, household items, the grocery has completely perished.
"It has not happened for the first time as last year too, the flash floods erupted due to rains did damage to our house and many items," Komal, a student busy in cleaning heaps of mud in Janipura area here said.
She said that it was the nightmare for the family when they saw vehicles, household items floating in the water.
"The successive governments in the past failed to solve the problem and present the Governor's Rule is in the state.
We hope that this problem will be sorted out at the earliest and the concerned authorities take come concrete step so that in future such damages do not occur," Manohar Lal said.
Meanwhile, the waterlogged roads and unplanned sewerage lines being laid within the city and poor drainage system invited criticism from the locals.
"So far there is no case of any injury or loss of life has been reported from Jammu district but we have received reports of major damages to the goods and other items from various parts," said a police official.
The water level in the River Tawi also increased due to heavy rains on the upper reaches.
Director MeT Sonam Lotus has also predicted more rains in Jammu in the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended today after being blocked by multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ramban and Udhampur districts, officials said.
However, Mughal road is open for two-way traffic.
The nearly 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked by landslides at Seri in Ramban district and Kheri in Udhampur district, they said.
They said no damage or casualty was reported in the landslides but it led to a massive traffic jam leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
Over 300 vehicles were stranded at various places en route, they said.
The men and machines of BRO are working to clear the highway of landslides and make it trafficable, they said.
Traffic officials said the Mughal Road, connecting the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region with south Kashmir's Shopian district, was open for two-way traffic.
Meanhile, Vaishno Devi pilgrimage via the new battery car track has been suspended after the Reasi-Udhampur highway was blocked due to landslides triggered by heavy rains.
Also, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is closed for operation due to a landslide at Udhampur's Kheri, which has brought all traffic to a halt. A road clearing operation is underway.
Earlier on July 15, a landslide in Seher Baba waterfall near Reasi district killed five people and injured 29 others, while on July 12, 13 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were injured after the tempo they were travelling in crashed into a parked truck near Birma Bridge in Udhampur.
Incessant rainfall has also wreaked havoc in various parts of Himachal Pradesh, with the National Highway-3 (Chandigarh-Manali) blocked due to a landslide near the town of Mandi.
Meanwhile, the Parvati Valley area of Mandi is witnessing a flood like situation, with landslides also occurring in the region's Banala area on National Highway-3.

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