Cloudburst triggers flash foods in Bandipora

Bandipora, Aug 15: Heavy rains due to cloudburst in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday triggered flash floods and with water sweeping through several habitations, primarily wreaking havoc in the upper reaches of the district.

Local said that heavy rains due to cloudbursts created a significant flow of water at Arin Dardpora's Kundri Nallah triggering flashfloods in the twin villages.

“The stream was dangerously overflowing, however, there has been no loss of life, although property was damaged,” local Bahar Jan said.

"Several culverts, temporary footbridges over the Nallah and walnut trees were washed away in the floods," Ghulam Mohuiddin Rather, DDC of Arin constituency said.

Locals said maize crop was damaged besides pipes laid by PHE and the blacktopping of a newly paved road also getting washed away in the flash floods in Dardpora

They said the culverts and temporary walk-over wooden bridges damaged in floods would annoy school-going children in the village.

They said that the family of Abdul Majeed Lone had to be “rescued when flood waters surrounded their house at Arin village”.

“Even though there was damage to crops and other properties, by Almighty grace no loss of life occurred,” they said.

Flash floods were also reported from Pazalpora, Sheikhpal, Barzulla, Panzigam, and other habitations.

Although no loss of life has been reported, property damage is being estimated, with locals suggesting that crop loss is going to be massive as the water goes into horticulture and paddy fields.

“The worst happened. The water entered the village,” said Yasir Rafique of Barzulla village as the Rish Kul rivulet breached following heavy rains possibly triggered by flash floods.

He said the flashfloods created extensive damage to crops while also wreaking havoc in the village as road, water pipes were damaged, besides vehicles parked on the roadside also taking damage.

At various places, water was seen entering villages and inundating roads and lawns.

Flash floods also triggered a rock slide near Chandaji due to rains triggered by cloudbursts on the Gurez-Bandipora road, prompting the administration to close it in as a precautionary measure on Thursday.

The locals of Chandaji said that the crop, primarily maize was damaged in the floods.

ADC Bandipora, Umar Shafi Pandit told Greater Kashmir that there was a "flood-like situation" in some areas following the heavy rains on Thursday.

He said teams were sent to the areas hit by floods.

District Chief Agricultural Officer of Bandipora, Javid Iqbal told Greater Kashmir that they were assessing the loss to crops caused by flash floods.

"We have reports that maize was extensively damaged in the Chandaji area due to cloudbursts. Damages to crops like paddy in other areas are being ascertained," he said.

Horticulture Development Officer Bandipora, Mehraj-ud-Din told Greater Kashmir that they had no reports of loss as of now.

"There were reports that trees have been uprooted by flash floods, however, we are yet to confirm any damage," he said.