Nomad, buffaloes die as cattle shed collapses in J-K’s Poonch in heavy rain

Heavy rain which lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir also prevented the restoration of the Jammu-Srinagar highway after a large part of it was washed away in Ramban district on Tuesday.

A 35-year-old nomad and four to five buffaloes were killed after a cattle shed collapsed in Mendhar area of Poonch district during heavy rains that lashed Jammu and Kashmir early Wednesday, police said.

Locals in Mendhar in Poonch carry out a rescue operation after a cattle shed collapsed in heavy rain.(HT PHOTO)

A foot bridge also collapsed in adjoining Rajouri district while the 270-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained blocked for the second straight day after a stretch of the highway was partially washed away in rains on Tuesday at Dalwas.

“A cattle shed collapsed in Sangiote village of Mendhar in Poonch district early Wednesday. Several cattle were stuck in it. A rescue operation has been launched by the locals,” said Ramesh Kumar Angral, senior superintendent of police, Poonch.

He also said that Mohammad Shokit, 35, son of Mohammad Hussain, a resident of Kallar Mora in Mendhar also died in the incident.

Angral said that the cattle shed belonged to Mohammad Aslam, son of Sab Din.

Power supply to Mendhar sub division was also affected following damage to transmission lines between Draba and Manjakote due to flash floods.

“Men and machinery have been pressed into service for early restoration”, said an official of the power development department.

A foot bridge that connected Manjakote with the main highway in Rajouri also collapsed in the rain this morning.

There were no reports of injuries in the incident.

In view of heavy rainfall in the past 12 hours, most of the water bodies were heavily flooded.

Keeping in view torrential rains and flooded rivers, Jammu and Kashmir Police an alert advising people to stay away from rivers and rivulets till the weather turns stable.

The Rajouri SSP Chandan Kohli has issued helpline numbers in case of any emergency.

SDPO Thanamandi - 9419170220 (For Darhal and Thanamandi), SDPO Manjakote - 7006548253 for Manjakote, DySP HQrs Rajouri - 7006108119 for Rajouri town and peripheral areas, SDPO Nowshera - 7889882440 for Nowshera sub division area, DySP DAR Rajouri - 9419113171 for Kotranka sub division, and PCR Rajouri - 01962262515

“Any police officer of police post and police station level can be contacted by public in case of any need while all the field officers are in regular touch with PRIs and village Numberdars to keep a close eye on the situation,” said Kohli.

Another advisory by Poonch police SSP Ramesh Kumar Angral said “Due to incessant rains in Mendhar sub division of Poonch district, rivers are swollen. Therefore people are requested to stay away from water bodies and in case of any emergency can call the Mendhar Police.

A bridge over Balol Nullah (rivulet) that connects Jeevan Nagar with Dharap on the outskirts of Jammu city was washed away in the flash floods on Wednesday morning.

The video of the bridge collapsing like a toy in the strong currents of the water has gone viral on social sites. However, no vehicle was passing over it when it was swept away.

15 people trapped in flood rescued in Kathua

Fifteen people from different families were rescued after they were caught in flash floods in Ujh river in Kathua district, police said.

The police acted swiftly after getting information about the trapped people of a nomadic tribe in their temporary shelters near the river in Rajbagh area, a police official said. He said a police team immediately rushed to the spot and shifted all 14 marooned people belonging to three different families, including women and children, to safety.

Another person, who was found trapped in his house on the bank of Ujh river in Rajbagh, was also rescued, the official said.

Sonam Lotus, director of the IMD in J&K and Ladakh said warned of flash floods due to the rain.

“Light to moderate rain occurred at many places of J&K with heavy to very heavy shower at isolated places of Jammu region whereas weather is generally cloudy in Ladakh with light rain in some areas,” he said.

“Currently it is raining at many places of central and south, southwest of Jammu region. The present system most likely to continue for the next 24 hours. Light to moderate rain with isolated heavy rain is most likely at widespread places of J&K and light to moderate rain is likely at scattered places of Ladakh region especially in Zanskar, Drass, Minamarg -Zojila area.”

He said people should remain alert over the next two days.

“All concerned are requested to remain alert to respond to any eventuality, like flash flood and landslides and remain cautious during the next two days”, said Lotus.