Kupwara, Apr 29: The flash floods caused by incessant rains have caused extensive damage to public and private property across north Kashmir’s Kupwara district leaving the residents in distress.
The incessant rainfall has resulted in the inundation of several roads affecting the movement of traffic.
The heavy downpour caused inundation of the Srinagar-Kupwara National Highway at multiple locations including Kawari, Badshah Khun, and Wadhpora, forcing the authorities to suspend movement of traffic on the highway.
The move was taken to thwart any possible eventuality, however, traffic was diverted to alternate routes for the convenience of people.
Several bridges across the district were damaged due to flash floods which include Shumriyal Bridge, Khumriyal Bridge, Shatmuqam Bridge, Sohipora-Hayhama Bridge, and Farkiyan Bridge.
Several roads were also damaged due to flash floods including Budbugh-Darbal Bala Road.
Shumryal-Gundajhanger Road along with a few other roads remained cut off due to landslides.
Two Rural Development Department buildings and the Assistant Director Handicrafts’ office building located at Kupwara were damaged due to flash floods.
A landslide damaged the school building and bathrooms of Government Middle School Khanpora Dardhaji in the Rajwar area of Handwara.
The local populace of the area has requested district administration Kupwara to immediately repair the damaged school building and bathrooms so that the education of students might not suffer.
According to reports, the low-lying areas of Handwara including Maidan Chogal, Gund Chogal, Braripora, Kultora, and Bungam have been severely hit by flash floods.
Several families were stuck in Bungam following which a rescue operation was launched by the Police and civil administration and the family members were evacuated.
After flash floods hit Maidan Chogal, people here were seen making announcements from Masjids for carrying out rescue operations to safeguard those stuck.
“I have seen this kind of flood only a second time in my entire time. In 1992, a similar kind of flood had caused widespread damage to the property of people across the district and this one was no different,” said an elderly in Gund Chogal village of Handwara.
All the border roads including Karnah, Keran, Machil, and Budnamal have been closed for vehicular movement due to fresh snowfall and avalanche threat.
Earlier, given inclement weather and flood-like situation in several areas, the district administration decided to suspend class work in all schools up to 12th standard on Monday.
Chief Education Officer (CEO), Kupwara, Abdul Majeed told Greater Kashmir that the decision was taken given inclement weather and the JKSDMA issued an avalanche warning.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan said that every possible step was being taken for the safeguard of people. Talking about rescue operations she said that 336 families from the flood-affected areas of the district were shifted to safer places.
She said that 198 families have been evacuated from Handwara Tehsil alone.
She said that 51 villages of the district had been partly inundated in the district and five villages in Handwara had been fully inundated by the floods.
She said that people need not panic as men and machinery had been pressed into service to take necessary rescue, relief, and restoration measures.
The DC urged those living close to the water bodies to take precautionary measures and not venture out till the water level recedes.
She said that 21 shelter homes had been established across the district for the affected people.
Earlier, Sudan accompanied by other officers, during the day undertook an extensive tour of the affected areas, where she took stock of the flood situation and directed the concerned to focus on evacuation measures so that lives are saved.
Later, she reviewed the flood situation in a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority and passed directions to all the concerned people involved in the rescue, relief, and restoration works.