Several families shifted from landslide-prone Baramulla area

Baramulla, Apr 30: The Baramulla district administration shifted several families from the landslide-prone area of Lateefabad Kandi, Baramulla area to safer places as there is no letup in the incessant rains.

The decision was taken after landslides hit the area a few days back and caused panic among the local population that has been struggling with the land sinking phenomenon.

An official said that around 61 persons from various families had been shifted to a Government Higher Secondary School and the nearby Panchayat Ghar where they are being provided food and shelter.

The uninterrupted rains in the last few days caused panic in the Kandi belt of Baramulla.

The authorities have already declared several villages including Shirpora, Khodpora, Gohan, Walraman, Lateefabad, Kawhar, Galibal road, and Laridora as landslide-prone areas.

These villages have been struggling with land sinking phenomenon for decades and during the rainy season, the incidents of landslides often wreak havoc here.

Scores of residential houses here have in the past too suffered damage in land sinking and landslides.

On Monday, at least nine persons were injured in different incidents of landslides and house collapse across Baramulla district.

The Baramulla-Baba Reshi Road was hit by landslides on Monday.

The incident left two persons injured as both of them came under the landslide.

However, the timely intervention of the locals saved their lives.

The incident left a residential house damaged while inhabitants of several residential houses took shelter in the nearby areas.

In Bujthala Boniyar, seven persons suffered minor injuries after their house collapsed on Monday evening.

Locals and J&K Police soon started a rescue operation and safely evacuated all the family members from the collapsed house.

In the Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, over a dozen villages continued to remain disconnected on Tuesday from the tehsil headquarters following incidents of landslides triggered by the incessant rains on Monday.

The area also witnessed a hailstorm on Monday which caused a huge loss to the crops.

Around eight families were shifted to safer places from different areas of the Uri on Monday.

In Trikolbal Pattan a vast area is inundated during the last two days.

Expressing anger over the flood-like situation in the area, locals said that no one from the administration visited the area and they continued to face hardships.

Firdous Ahmad, a resident of the area, urged the authorities to ensure that the rainwater was drained out from the area or it would cause water-borne diseases.

They said that besides draining the rainwater, the area needs a proper drainage system so that rainwater does not accumulate in the area.

In Kanispora Baramulla, the locals continued to struggle due to the inundation of a vast area.

They said that a long drain from Khawjabagh to Kanispora had been encroached upon by some residents as a result of which the area often witnesses flood-like situations, especially during the rainy season.