The torrential rains that has caused flash floods and multiple landslides in Jammu division of Jammu Kashmir has caused havoc and brought miseries to a very large population resulting into loss of lives, livestock and homes besides massive damage to the public infrastructure.
Damages caused are more in Jammu, Reasi, Rajouri, Samba and Kathua districts as per the media reports. Monsoon fury left many places in Jammu region thumped and water logged. One person killed and many a cattle perished because of landslide in Mendhar area. Rajouri too faces the brunt of flash flood.
Heavy rainfall early on Wednesday wreaked havoc in many parts of Jammu with streets inundated, flood water entering houses and shops in areas like Kaluchak, Kunjwani, Pamposh Colony, Chatha and Nanak Nagar nd Greater Kailash. The drains and nallahs in Jammu city were seen overflowing with the gushing flood water. Roads and streets were also waterlogged, making life difficult for the residents. The power supply too was disrupted for about four hours in various parts of the city.
The overflowing nallah even washed away a bridge at Dharap near Jeevan Nagar creating connectivity issues for the people disconnecting atleast 200 villages. The bridge that collapsed due to the flood water was an important link between Dharap and Bishnah Tehsil of Jammu district.
The bridge collapsed was also caught on camera and is viral at Social Media. Interestingly, the bridge was built just five years ago with much fanfare and taking credit in the name of developmental works in Jammu. People witnessed how the heavy downpour dramatically increased volume and pressure of water, wearing away the earth around and underneath bridge piers and within no time people saw the bridge crumbling.
Dozens of people were rescued on after they were caught in flash floods in Ujh river in Rajbagh area of Kathua district, marooned ridges alongside and within Tawi river at various parts of its track.
Monsoon devastation has now becomes an annual feature without any measurable progress to contain and manage the floods and save the population from the agonies of this natural disaster. On this count, Jammu Kashmir has poor record and has been found severely wanting. Often during times of heavy rainfall, drainage systems in residential areas are not adequate, or unchecked civil development severely impedes the functionality of an otherwise acceptable drainage system. The unregulated expansion of civic areas has damaged the natural eco-system due to large scale of encroachments of forest lands, Khads and constructions alongside city Nallahs thus shrinking the natural drainage and flow of rain water.
The administration has miserably failed to prepare an effective plan to deal with such a situation every year and woke up only when the floods bring havoc to the people. The unregulated constructions and expansion must be checked and illegal bottlenecks created must be removed forthwith wherever needed. More than ever before, any infrastructure development needs to factor in the risk of the effects of climatic disaster; not doing that is an open invitation to trouble.
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