Heavy Rains Disrupt Normal Life in Rajouri District ; Several Villages Cut Off. Damage to Houses Reported.

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD 

RAJOURI AUGUST 18:-Continuous heavy rainfall since early morning hours on Monday has thrown life out of gear in the Rajouri district.
Rivers, seasonal rivulets, and streams are flowing at dangerously high levels. People living in low-lying areas are gripped with fear, while standing crops in some villages have been submerged, and several houses have been damaged.

A flash flood in a seasonal rivulet under Rajouri police jurisdiction has claimed the life of a 19-year-old youth, and efforts are still in progress to retrieve the body.

Reviewing the situation, the district administration has urged people to stay away from riverbanks and streams. Officials have warned that any carelessness until the rains stop could prove fatal.

In the hilly areas of the district, continuous rains and landslides have blocked several internal roads, disrupting connectivity to many remote villages, especially in Thannamandi, Darhal, Budhal, and surrounding areas.

Continuous heavy rainfall has disrupted movement on the Kotranka-Khawas road as a section of the road was washed away, causing severe inconvenience to residents and commuters.
The supply of essential commodities to these cut-off villages is becoming increasingly challenging.
Meanwhile, disaster management and police teams have been put on alert by the administration.
Standing crops of maize and vegetables are under threat, and farmers have warned that prolonged rainfall could cause severe losses.
The Deputy Commissioner, Abhishek Sharma, has appealed to the public not to spread or believe in rumours and to strictly follow official advisories.
The DC’s office has set up a control room that will remain operational round-the-clock for emergencies.
Due to the incessant rains, 2 houses in Thannamandi, 4 in Manjakote, and 2 in Khawas have suffered damage.
However, no loss of life has been reported as residents had vacated the houses in advance.
At the time of filing this report, the spell of rain was continuing. Meanwhile, in Rajouri town, as the Sukhto river swelled to dangerous levels, police evacuated slum dwellers from the riverbank to safer places.