Floods cause havoc to SKUAST-J infrastructure

R S PURA : The unprecedented rains in Jammu region caused massive floods in the rivers and rivulets which highly damaged the infrastructure of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) at Chatha and R.S Pura. The flash floods during the intervening night of 5th -6th September, 2014 in the Balol Nallah, Chatha flooded the whole campus of SKUAST-J. These flash floods caused extensive damage to physical infrastructure, laboratories and equipments besides experimental farms. State of the art Automatic Weather Observatory (Agrometerology) of the university was extensively damaged by the flash floods. Massive damage has also been caused to experimental glass houses, net houses and high-tech poly houses.
Taking stock of the unprecedented losses caused to infrastructure, research farms, class rooms and laboratories, Dr. Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu in an emergency meeting with the officers of the university held on 7th September 2014 ordered for suspension of class work till 14th September, 2014. In the meeting it has been estimated that losses caused can run into crores of rupees. To make a factual assessment of the massive losses, various committees were constituted by the Vice Chancellor.
These flash floods washed off whole experimental orchard and experimental materials of the scientists, M.Sc. and Ph.D. scholars. The R.S Pura Campus also suffered massive damage due to these rains.

The KVKs/Research Stations at Reasi, Poonch and Rajouri also could not escape the fury of nature. The KVK, Reasi situated at Dera Baba Banda at the bank of Chenab River has been extensively damaged and the scientists and other staff working there were evacuated by the district administration.