Reyaz Ahmed
Baramulla, May 27 (NAK): It was yet another day of incessant rains in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district after overnight rains, hailstorm cloud burst, which triggered flash floods across the district.
Disastrous cloud burst triggered flash foods that washed away the standing crops in Sheeri, Narwave while flash floods lashed Baramulla town and water damaged walls of residential houses in Nooorbagh, Snagricolony and entered into many shops too.
Due to flash floods triggered by the incessant rains followed by hailstones on Monday vegetables, apple, walnut crop and the newly planted paddy saplings has suffered heavy damaged worrying the people associated with the cultivation.
The most of areas and villages in Baramulla including higher secondary schools, streets, and lanes remain water logged with huge amount silt accumulated on the roads and streets here.
Meanwhile both Boys and Girls higher Secondary Schools in Baramulla could not function due to heavy waters logging in the premises of the institutions.
“Whenever it rains, our schools remain closed due this water logging that has been the common phenomenon here since last many years but authorities has been paying no attention towards this problem,” said the students of the two institutions who protested here against the authorities.
The students later approached to Deputy Commissioner Baramulla who directed fire services employees haul out water.
The worst affected areas in North Kashmir ‘s Baramulla district were Sopore, Snagricolony, Noorbagh, Sheeri Narwawe, Uskhura, Sangrama, Rafiabad, Pattan, Uri wherein the vegetable, apple, walnuts and newly planted saplings were washed away inflicting huge damage .
Talking to News Agency of Kashmir President of Baramulla Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, Ghulam Rasool Bhat said that 50 % to 70 % apple crop has been destroyed due to heavy rains, hailstorm and stormy floods yesterday in North Kashmir.
When contacted Director Horticulture Nazir Ahmed Wani, he said that apple and walnut crop has suffered damage due to the continuous rains in the region.
“We have deputed teams to asses the damage, however final report of the damage is awaited,” said Wani
When asked that fruit growers have been demanding compensation against the loss he said, “We will look into it and compensation would be provided to those who have suffered loss,” said wani.
Chief Agriculture Officer Baramulla Farooq Ahmed told News Agency of Kashmir that the vegetable crops in Baramulla district was damaged but ‘we can not call it the significant damage as the leaves will come out again.”
Meanwhile Deputy Chief Minster and MLA Muzzafar Hussain Baig along with Deputy Commissioner Baramulla flood and control and other district officials visited Sheeri village to take note of the prevailing situation in the flood affected areas,
He directed the concerned officials that damaged drains and lanes at Sheeri Village should be constructed on war footings and irrigation channel at sheeri must be cleared from the silt and sand within five days.
He also interacted with locals and assured the farmers that compensation would be given to those suffered damage in the flash floods. (NAK)