Flash floods leave several areas submerged in Kupwara

Kupwara, Mar 2: The incessant rainfall in plains of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Saturday caused flash floods resulting in severe hardships to the general public.

Flood water entered into several houses in Batpora, Kargama area of Handwara due to which people faced hardships. The residents said that Dahgam Kul water submerged the main road of the village with the result people remained confined to their houses.

“Even we are unable to offer prayers at the mosque for the last two days because the road leading to the mosque is submerged,” a local told Greater Kashmir.

Residents said that they were apprehensive about the safety of their houses. They alleged that even after calling the concerned officials numerous times they did not bother to visit their village to assess the situation.

“Every year we appeal to the Irrigation and Flood Control department to construct a barrage on Dahgam Kul to thwart floods in our village but to no avail. It seems that we are a forgotten lot for the concerned authorities, that is why our pleas are not being taken seriously,” Asif Ahmad, a local, said while talking to this correspondent.

Locals said that due to incessant rainfall, several water bodies in Kupwara started to flow above normal level causing panic among locals as water entered into residential houses.

Meanwhile, the district administration has appealed to people living close to water bodies to not venture out unnecessarily.

Meanwhile Assistant Executive Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Division Langate Mohammad Amin said that since the village was located in the low-lying area water has entered the village.

“We have been constantly assessing the situation, if need arises we will shift the inhabitants to safer places,” he added.