Affected families await Government help

Kangan, Aug 05: More than a dozen families in three villages of Cherwan, Kawcherwan, and Padabal in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district survived the devastating cloudburst but nature’s fury left some of them homeless.

On Saturday night, flash floods along with massive landslides triggered by cloudbursts hit these areas along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, causing massive damage to residential houses, agricultural land, vehicles, road infrastructure including culverts, and water and electricity supply lines.

While the civil administration, Police, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Army, and other agencies carried out the rescue and clearance work and restored the Srinagar-Leh National Highway after a few hours, the families affected by the cloudburst complained that no official from the civil administration visited the area and enquired about their wellbeing or relief measures.

Locals said that a family whose residential house was damaged completely has a marriage function scheduled next month.

They said that except for the local SHO Kangan and Tehsildar Kangan, no senior official from the administration bothered to even pay a visit to the area.

“Whatever work is being carried here including clearance of debris is being done by the local community,” said a local, Ishfaq Ahmad.

Locals said that the administration had not provided any relief or help to them so far.

Adnan Ahmad, whose house was damaged due to the landslides following the cloudburst, said, “We abandoned our homes that night and took refuge in a nearby area fearing that it was our last day and we all were going to die. The village witnessed huge damage with the flashfloods with water and mud entering into residential houses. Our houses developed cracks and have become unsafe to live in. So, the administration should take measures to rehabilitate us and take immediate steps to mitigate the issue of land sinking in the area.”

Locals said that the authorities should also look into the issue of the power canal leakage.

A resident of Kawcherwan said that several footbridges, electric poles, water supply pipes, and electric transformers had been damaged.

Locals urged the administration to take immediate measures for the restoration of essential services.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Ganderbal, Gulzar Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that some relief under the Red Cross has been given to the affected families.

“The final assessment of the losses has been made and after due procedure, compensation will soon be provided to the affected families,” he said.

The ADC said that they had asked the concerned officials of PDC to asses and check about the leakage complaints from the power canal in the area.