Rains, landslides: Traffic suspended on NH, Amarnath yatris’ convoy stopped at Ramban

Man killed by shooting stone in Ramban; flood like situation in Doda, 2 rescued

STATE TIMES NEWS

Banihal: A fresh batch of over 3,000 Amarnath pilgrims left a base camp here for Kashmir on Saturday but their convoy was stopped in Ramban after authorities closed the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway following heavy rains and landslides.
Landslides due to rains have been reported from Mehar and Dalwas areas along the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, officials said.
A 55-year-old man was killed when he was hit by a rolling stone from a hillock amid heavy rains in Ramban district.
Abdul Rashid Bhat was on his way to Chakki in Pogal Paristan area when he was fatally hit by the shooting stones, Tehsildar Nasir Javed said.
He said Pogal Paristan witnessed heavy rains, cloudburst and flash floods in the morning, also damaging a residential house at Alinbass-A, Chanbas, while a portion of Ukhral-Senabathi road was damaged.
A bridge abutment near Magarkote, Sujmatrna was swept away in the flash floods, leaving several villages including Khowra, Dragali, Dardahi and Ahma without connectivity, the official said.
The 20th batch of 3,472 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu in 132 vehicles in the early hours this morning but the convoy was stopped at Chanderkote due to the closure of the highway, they said.
Of them, 2,515 pilgrims are listed to undertake the yatra to the amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas from Pahalgam in Anantnag district and 957 by the Baltal route in Ganderbal district, the officials said.
Over three lakh pilgrims have already undertaken the pilgrimage to the shrine located at an altitude of 3,880 metres since it began on July 1.
Road clearance operations are on at affected areas to ensure early restoration of traffic on the highway, according to traffic department officials.
Light to moderate rains and thunderstorms have been reported from many parts of Jammu and Kashmir, a meteorological department official said.
Rainfall is likely to continue throughout the day with forecast of heavy spells in certain areas such as those in Kathua district. This will be followed by intermittent light to moderate rain at scattered places on Sunday, he said.
A Gujjar hamlet at Ghadkhal in the Akhnoor sector on the outskirts of Jammu was inundated due to rise in the water level of the Chenab river in the morning. According to officials, the current water level of the Chenab at Akhnoor is 29.6 feet against the flood alert level of 32 feet.
A powerful cloudburst that struck Kota Nullah in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district early this morning washed away a stretch of Thaleela – Chirala link road and creating flood like situation. Meanwhile police rescued two persons from flood at Kota Nallah.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Thathri Athar Amin Zargar informed that a portion of road of Thaleela-Chirala link got washed away after a cloudburst occurred in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
“The cloud burst coupled with heavy rain resulted in mudslides and flood like situation in Kota Nullah. However no loss of life or injury was reported. Men and machinery is being deployed to clear debris from the road and restore it at the earliest,” SDM Thathri added saying that Doda – Kishtwar stretch of highway which got closed due to cloudburst between Shiva Pull to Thathri Petrol Pump has been restored for two way traffic.
Meanwhile torrential rains continued in most part of Doda and Kishtwar districts on third day today, resulting rise in water bodies including Chinab river and it’s major tributaries like Neeru and Kalnai.
The District administration and Police Doda has advised people to remain cautious and stay away from Streams, Rivers and other vulnerable spots.
Meanwhile, ASP Bhadarwah Vinod Sharma informed that two persons were rescued from flood in Kota Nullah in Puneja area of Doda district on Thaleela-Chirala link road.
“After receiving information, a police team led by SHO Thathri Amrit Katoch and Incharge PP Karara rescued two persons, who stucked in flood in Kota Nallah, ” ASP Bhadarwah informed.
“Today an information was received at PP Karara that one individual namely Raj Singh, son of Rumal Singh, resident of Amala udhampur have got stuck in a sudden flash flood at Puneja road. Acting Swiftly the Police party of PP lead by Insp Amrit Katoch rushed to the spot to launch rescue operation, ” he said, adding that HC Shahnawaz and HC Rajinder Singh risked their lives and entered into the gushing stream of flood and by showing exemplary valor and presence of mind saved the said person from washing away in the flood.