Wasim Majnoon Mir
Kupwara: Floods caused by incessant rains for last couple of days has cut off a remote village from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district
The Lolab Nallah and Kehmil Nallah which is in high spate has aggravated the situation by severely damaging of Khumriyal Bridge and Bangargund Bridge restricting normal movement of people.
The authorities have completely sealed off the bridge for vehicular movements since Last morning.The patients as well as old age people, women, children were seen looking for lifts to reach their destinations.
The authorities braving all odds camping on the spot have deployed machines to divert the over flowing Nallah to restore the traffic.
Reports said that scores of villages have been waterlogged and some are even cut-off from rest of the valley. Incessant rains also caused damage to a Government Boys Primary School at Mitbagh and washed away a local foot-path bridge connecting it with Kalaroos.
Dozens of villages reportedly had to go without electricity for the third consecutive day today.Reports further said that flood threat is looming large in localities alongside the Nallah Kehmil,lolab Nallah Nallah Khorhama, Nallah Kalaroos, Nallah Hayhama and Nallah Kohru.These nallas are overflowing due to heavy rains.
The areas that face the flood threat are Kulangam, Wudhpora, Chogal, Unisoo, Shartgund, Langate Kohroo, Awatkul, Arampora, Nutnussa, Bramrie, Check Drugmulla, Pushwari, Padergund, Hanjipora, Bohipora Kupwara, Ghoos, Bedibera, Shumeriyal, Kanthpora-B and Potushay.
Even as the officials maintain that there is no threat of any flash flood or other eventuality, they say that the administration was still ready to face any challenge.
Reports said that nearly half a dozen bridges including that of Sulkoot, Bhatnaad, Shalgund, Malgund, Shumeriyal and Kalaroos villages of Lolab assembly segment and a diversion bridge on Handwara Baramullah road at Batgund have come under water.
Sudden disruption of roads connectivity has restricted the movement of people at Kulpora Sulkkoot, Dal, Madmadav, Rangdar, Lushteyal Tawheed Mohala, Shumeriyal, Bhatnaad, Gratnaad, Shrant, Dhoban, Malgund Khorhama, Ophen, and Gundmachar areas.
Reports further said that many schools in these areas are closed from the past few days.Many villages including, Bangergund, Padergund, Bohipora, Arampora, Mattipora, Jagarpora, Bramrie, Wudhpora, Kulangam, Nutnussa, Shumeriyal, Khumeriyal and Regipora were partially submerged as last reports poured in.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara along with civil and police officials today visited various flood affected areas of the District including Bhipora, Aloosa, Sholora etc to take stock and supervise the rescue and relief operations.Around 20 villages in Kupwara have been affected by flood and people in many villages have been taken to safer places. Boats have been utilized and kept ready to evacuate marooned populations besides thousands of sand bags have also been utilized for embankment of flood water.
When contacted Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Itrat Hussain confirmed the crises in Lolab and told Media that administration was on the job to restore the essential services.
He appealed people living in land slide prone areas like Karnah, Kairan and Machil to take extra precautions while venturing out.