NL Correspondent
Doda, July 20
Sudden flash-floods triggered after cloudbursts in twin districts of
Doda and Kishtwar have claimed eight lives while several people were
remained trapped for several hours in flood fury on Thursday.
In Thathri around 40 kilometers from district Doda, six people were
killed including four of a family whereas in remote Chichwara village
of hilly Kishtwar district a woman and her six year old grandson
washed away in sudden flash-floods.
The cloudburst in Thathri triggered at around 2 am and half a dozen
residential houses, shops, a school and several vehicles were washed
away in flash floods.
Dev Raj of Nagni village lost his wife Naru Devi (40), daughters —
Sapna Devi (14) and Priya Devi (7) and son Rahul (9). Their bodies
have been recovered, police said. Apart from them other two deceased
persons have been identified as Patna Devi (45) of Balgran and
Shrishta Devi (15) of Balgran.
“We were sleeping in house when we heard loud noise, but in seconds
the town was under the grip of flashfloods, several vehicles were
washed away, homes and shops were damaged and loud screams were also
heard from houses were people got trapped,” a local said.
“Police teams from local police station and locals started rescue
opearion and rescue few people, but several people were remain trapped
for long time and they were rescued after the hectic effort of rescue
teams of police, locals, civil administration and army,” he added.
“I got first information instantly because station is near to the spot
and we swung into action without wasting anytime, the people were very
supportive throughout the operation and they shoed courage in
difficult situations and help us saving several lives struck in the
house. We saved four members of a family including 2 year old baby,”
Incharged Station House Officer, Thathri Ajay Engoral said.
Deputy Commissioner, Doda Bhupinder Kumar said, “Six people have lost
their lives in flash floods while seven people have been rescued by
rescue teams from flash floods after hectic affords. Several cars were
washed away in flash floods and damages to eight residential buildings
and five shops.”
“IGP Jammu Zone, Divisional Commissioner and Transport Minister Sunil
Sharma also visited the spot and reviewed the ground situation and
issued directions to speed up relief and rehabilitation work for the
victims.” he said and added, “we have restored Doda-Kishtwar national
highway for vehicular traffic which was blocked due to accumulation of
debris after flash floods.”
In another incident of cloud burst at Kishtwar today, a woman got
killed and her six year old grandson went missing in the flash floods.
The cloud burst triggered along with flash floods at around 4 am this
morning in Chichwara under the jurisdiction of police station Dool,
Kishtwar in which a woman and her grandson got trapped and washed
away.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar Sundeep Wazir said, “Dead
body of the woman has been recovered by our rescue teams. However hunt
in on to trace the missing boy in debris,”
“Flash floods after cloudburst razed the mud house and water mill of
the woman identified as Kungi Devi (45) wife of Krishan Lal of
Chichwara and his grandson Samrat who were inside the mill that time.
Their livestock's were also were also washed away.”
Meanwhile, Member Legislative Assembly, Doda Shakti Raj Parihar has
expressed grief over the loss of precious lives and conveyed his
heartfelt sympathy to the families of those killed in the cloudburst
triggered flash floods in Thathri town of Doda district.
He also appreciated the efforts of administration in handling this
situation and applauded the rescue operation carried out by different
agencies and locals at this difficult situation.
He has asked the administration and government to start of the work
for the restoration of the damaged properties and provision of relief to the victims.
