“We are fully geared up to meet any challenge,” DC Baramulla
By Reyaz Ahmed, NAK,
Baramulla : At least 10 localities in Baramulla town and five adjoining villages including Watergam Rafiabad in were submerged in rain water in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district with incessant rains lashing out Kashmir valley from last four days.
Many localities across Baramulla town including Kowajabagh, Azadgunj, Kantbagh, Singhbagh, Noorbagh, Ushkura areas of Baramulla were flooded with continuous rains and level water has increased interring into residential houses.
In Rafiaabad area rain water flooded entire Watergam village where orchards and paddy filed pose as lakes and roads have turned into rivers.
People in inundated areas alleged that district administration has failed to reach there expectations and despite their repeated requests for proper drainage system nothing was put in place.
“We have many times approached concern authorities and district administration for proper drainage system in these flood prone areas but nothing has been done. The administration get alert when floods damage our property and roads badly,” said Mushtaq Ahmed Lone of Kantbagh.
“Your can see the rainwater flooding our streets and roads as there is no out let. We are residing in low-lying areas water from upper villages comes straight away here and submerge these localities. We appealed for drainage system so that the water is drained into driver Jehlum but nothing happened,” said another resident Saqib Ahmed of Kowajabagh area.
“No one from administration side came reached here to see our miseries, Baramulla is flooded, inundated roads, streets and lanes virtually turned into small rivers and choked drains itself speak volumes about concern of district administration and flood control department,” said a group of residents of Singhbagh and Azadgunj colonies.
However, District administration maintains that there is no threat of any flash flood; the administration is still ready to face any challenge. ‘‘We are fully geared up and precautionary measures have been taken up,’’ Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Latief-u-Zaman Deva told News Agency of Kashmir on phone.
‘‘I am in touch with my officials and other agencies. We are keeping an eye on the situation,” added
The situation is grim in the district which has been witnessing continuous rains for the past four days.
Most of the nallah’s are overflowing due to heavy rains. The upper reaches in Baramulla and Kupwara have received heavy snowfall. The world-famous tourist spot Gulmarg and Sadhana top also received heavy snow.
Many low-lying localities in Sopore, Kupwara, Handwara and Baramulla have got marooned due to the incessant rains.
But even as the authorities claim that they are fully geared up complaints about the water-logging are pouring in from various localities.
Reports from various localities in Sopore town, Baramulla and Kupwara say that many localities are completely under water. ‘‘Nobody has come to see our locality which is completely inundated since yesterday evening,’’ a resident of Stadium colony in Baramulla Javid Ahmed said.
“New Colony Sopore is completely flooded and we are trapped inside our houses. We apprehend that our house will collapse as water level is increasing with incessant rains,” said Ghulam Nabi Khan of New Colony Sopore.