Fifty tourists from West Bengal, who were stranded at Nashri due to flash-floods and landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, were rescued Thursday morning by the police and shifted to a safe place in Batote in the Ramban district.
Photo:SNS
Fifty tourists from West Bengal, who were stranded at Nashri due to flash-floods and landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, were rescued Thursday morning by the police and shifted to a safe place in Batote in the Ramban district. These tourists, including women and children, were stranded on the highway for the past several hours, and the police launched the operation to rescue them soon after they learned about the incident.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Shridhar Patil said, “In a swift rescue operation amidst heavy rainfall, J&K Police in Batote (Ramban) successfully evacuated 50 tourists from West Bengal who had been stranded due to sudden flash floods and landslides that disrupted road connectivity”.
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“Upon receiving the information, a police team from Police Station Batote, accompanied by Tehsildar Batote and the disaster management team, immediately rushed to the location. Demonstrating exemplary dedication, the rescue team safely evacuated all 50 tourists from the vulnerable site and relocated them to a safer place in Batote”, he said.
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“Adequate arrangements, including food, water, shelter, and other essential facilities, were made to ensure their comfort and safety,” the DIG added.
Five people trapped in a landslide at the Rattle power project in Kishtwar were rescued by the authorities.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh wrote on X, “Just now spoke to DC Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma. Must appreciate the district administration for taking prompt action and rescuing around five persons who could have otherwise been fatal victims of the landslide at the Rattle power project in Dhrabshala area. The rescued persons are injured but safe and are being given the necessary medical treatment, in addition to every other required assistance”.
The flood situation in the Kashmir valley was turning serious, with the Jhelum flowing above the danger mark, causing breaches and inundating villages at a couple of places.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is personally monitoring the situation, wrote on X, “In the early hours, a breach occurred in the River Jhelum bund near village Zoonipora, Budgam, resulting in inundation of nearby areas. Consequently, the villages Shalina, Rakh Shalina, and Baghi Shakirshah have come under water. Residents of these villages were safely evacuated during the night to designated rescue centers and safer locations. There remains apprehension of inundation in Seerbagh and Summerbugh villages of Budgam, and our teams are actively engaged in relocating people from these areas to safety. People of these areas are requested to move to safer areas till the water level recedes”.
The District Administration of Budgam has activated six rescue centers in the affected areas.
“Our entire manpower and machinery are on the ground. Adequate numbers of rescue teams led by SDRF, NDRF, police, and revenue officials are stationed at the site and carrying out relief and rescue operations,” he added.
In light of the Jhelum crossing the danger mark of 21 ft, the Jammu & Kashmir Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (J&K LCMA) has issued an advisory for residents living in and around Dal Lake, particularly Dal dwellers and houseboat owners.
To regulate this surge, the gate at Ram Munshi Bagh may be opened at any time as part of emergency water level management measures. The potential opening of this gate is expected to cause a further rise in the water level of Dal Lake, which currently stands at 10.5 feet. This rise may pose a significant risk of inconvenience to Dal dwellers and houseboat owners.
According to the DC of Udhampur, Saloni Rai, as many as 38 relief camps have been set up in the district, accommodating over 2,000 people with all their food and essential needs provided by the administration.
Preliminary estimates indicate that 380 roads were damaged, of which 190 have been restored.
According to DC Kathua Rajesh Sharma, 26 relief camps have been set up in the district, accommodating over 1,900 people. Preliminary estimates indicate that 285 roads were damaged, of which 179 have been restored.
A total of 186 water supply schemes were damaged, out of which 79 schemes have been restored.
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