Flood Situation in J&K Improves : DeathToll In Landslide, House Collapse Rises To 15
31 March, Srinagar
The death toll has risen to 15 in house collapse due to a landslide in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir . Fifteen bodies have been recovered while the rescue operation is on. One more person is also feared dead who is still trapped in the debris.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam, a landslide hit Hajam Mohaalla of Laden village of Charai-i-Sharief yesterday.
He said three families, comprising 16 inmates-nine males and seven females-living in three residential houses, came under the landslide. As the terrain was very difficult, Machines were unable to get close to spot as roads have been swept away. Police, Army and civilians were left with no option but carry out the rescue operation manually.
The SSP said five horses and 10 cows also died while two residential houses and two cowsheds collapsed in the same area. AIR correspondent reports that rescue operations were carried out by J&K Police at various places and 728 people belonging to 151 families were rescued and evacuated to safer places.
With the improvement in weather, the water level has started receding giving some relief to the people living in the flood prone areas of Srinagar and other places. More than 320 families have been moved to safer places in Kashmir valley as water level in river Jhelum was still above the flood level.
More than 200 structures including 176 houses have developed cracks due to land sinking in Shopian district of south Kashmir. Rainfall stopped yesterday but Met department has predicted heavy rainfall at isolated places in the State over the next few days.
Authorities have appealed to the people not to panic, saying every possible step was being taken to deal with the flood threat. Refusing to take any chances this time, people started shifting to safer places. Temporary camps have been set up in various government buildings for people who have been forced to leave their homes.
Eight teams of National Disaster Response Force, NDRF have been deputed to assist the state government. The Indian Air Force has also placed its resources on standby and is keeping a close watch on the flood situation in the state.
Two Mi-17 Helicopters each at Srinagar, Jammu and Udhampur have been kept stand by. In addition to this, one Cheetah helicopter of Indian Air Force are on standby at Srinagar and Jammu to be part of rescue and relief operations. 20 columns with rescue boats and other equipment have been kept on alert to deal with any situation that may arise due to rising water levels.
Army is assisting the civil administration in flood control measures in Baramulla.