Kupwara, Apr 16: The flash floods caused by incessant rains have caused extensive damage to public and private property across north Kashmir’s Kupwara district leaving residents in agony.
Several bridges have been damaged in the entire district including the vital Bakiaker bridge.
According to locals of Bakiaker, half of the bridge has collapsed leaving them disconnected with the Handwara tehsil headquarters. “We heard a big sound at about 1 am during Monday night, while rushing towards the scene we came across that the bridge has collapsed” a local Adil Akbar told Greater Kashmir.
“This bridge was earlier damaged in 2014 floods following which authorities had banned plying of heavy vehicles over it but today over three hundred households are left disconnected. We are now subjected to take another route via Wadipora to reach our village,” he added.
According to locals, they have been pressing for approval of a new bridge since 2014 but to no avail. “Don’t know for how many years we will suffer due to the lack of a bridge,” they added.
Sarkoli-Hajibal bridge in the Kalaroos area has also got damaged causing hardships for the people. The makeshift bridge at Putwari Magam in Handwara Sub District has been washed away due to flash floods in the area, leaving residents disconnected.
Several kanals of agricultural land has got damaged at different places of Babagund, Gundmomin, Balipora, Padergund and Bangergund due to flash floods in the area.
Langate-Hajin road was partially damaged due to incessant rains.
Flash Floods also caused widespread damage to construction material and machinery worth crores deployed at the under-construction site of the Government Medical College Handwara.
Flash floods submerged tools, materials, and heavy machinery worth crores at the construction site of GMC Handwara. Pertinently the GMC is being constructed at Gund Chogal, few kilometres away from main Town Handwara.
A residential house of a widow was also damaged in Zangli area of Kupwara. She has appealed to the administration to provide her immediate relief so that she can construct the house afresh.
A major rescue operation was launched during night by Handwara Administration headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Handwara Aziz Ahmad Rather and Tehsildar Handwara Zeeshan Khan in Kawari village after 8 feet water inundated the village from Pohru Nallah. A total of 20 souls were evacuated by using boats. A similar rescue operation was launched in Magam and Machipora also.
Later Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Ayushi Sudan visited all the affected areas to take stock of the situation. She has directed all the concerned Tehsildars to ascertain the damage to private and public property due flash floods. Tehsildars have been asked to submit the report so that the affected families can be given compensation.
Earlier District Administration Kupwara decided to suspend classwork on Tuesday in all schools upto 8th class due flood like situation. An official communiqué in this regard by Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kupwara Abdul Majeed Dar reads “As desired by Worthy Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, all the institutions whether (Govt/Private) upto 8th standard shall remain closed today on 16-04-2024, in view of the heavy rainfall followed by avalanche warning issued by JKDMA inorder to ensure the safety of students’’.