Srinagar, Jun 12: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has begun de-watering numerous submerged areas in the past 24 hours and has pressed into the services both the mobile and stationed pumps across the city, particularly at the vulnerable points.

SMC commissioner Khurshid Ahmad Sanai today took stock of de-watering exercise in the city since yesterday evening an unusual situation thrown up because of unprecedented showers since yesterday.

He visited various places including Regal Chook, Jehangir Chowk, Lalchowk, Magarmal Bagh and Batamaloo.

Following reports of water logging, the SMC commissioner took a review meeting on dewatering progress after extensive field visits at different working stations and areas under submergence.

He was accompanied by SE Drainage, Exn Left River Works, Xen Right River Works, Exn Mechanical division, Chief Sanitation Officer, AEEs and other officials.

Commissioner SMC passed on directions to the concerned team to keep dewatering stations in full operational mode round the clock and keep the standby diesel/generator sets in a state of readiness at the permanent dewatering stations.

“We are doing de-watering to the best of our abilities. Our men and machines are working constantly to ensure no civilian faces any inconvenience due to the rain water,” said Sanai.

The officials apprised the commissioner of the ground situation and the men and machinery in place to dewater inundated areas.

The SMC has in place 80 pumping stations and 115 mobile pumping units.

Besides this, SMC has put in place sucker machines and high pressure mobile dewatering units for quick disposal.

The SMC has prioritized areas and all those places where there are reports of submergence will be attended to.

“Major areas facing water logging have already been attended to,” said Sanai. (KNS)

Baramulla police solved a burglary case in shortest possible time and recovered stolen property including mobile phones and cash.

Police Station Uri received a complaint from Shabir Ahmad Bhatti resident of Uri stating therein that during the intervening night of 9th and 10th of June, some unknown burglars broke into his mobile shop at Main Market, Uri and stole electronic goods and cash.

Accordingly, a case FIR number 56/2019 under relevant sections of law was registered and investigation was initiated.

While investigating the case, officers from the Police Station visited the scene of crime. During further course of investigation, the investigating team questioned one suspect namely Shakoor Ahmad son of Mohammad Maqbool resident of Garkote Uri.

When the investigating officers spoke to him about the burglary, they learnt about his involvement in the case & eventually stolen property including mobile phones and cash was recovered from his possession. Moreover, the tool used for the burglary was also seized.

SRINAGAR, June 12: Former legislators Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Engineer Shiekh Abdul Rasheed, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Ghulam Hassan Mir met in Srinagar to discuss the prevailing political scenario in the State.

According to a joint statement issued here, the meeting focused on the issue of Delimitation as is being reported by the media. The leaders felt that any such move without following the due process can further alienate the people and will weaken the secular fabric of the state.

They urged the State and Central Governments not to vitiate the atmosphere by such attempts which will also be in violation of the Constitution. They said that such issues must be left to the elected government of the state to discuss and decide.

The former legislators appealed the people to stand together for protection of the constitutional guarantees and appealed all political parties and members of civil society to unite for this common cause.

The leaders said they want to assure the people that they will not allow any design to dilute the sanctity of the state constitution and the aspirations of the people.

Srinagar, June 12 : After overnight incessant rains, the water level in the Jhelum crossed ‘alarm mark’ of 18-ft in south Kashmir’s Sangam gauge at 2 p.m.

“The water level recorded at 1400 hours was 18.21 ft against 18-ft flood alarm mark and as soon it crosses 21-ft mark, flood is declared,” an official of Irrigation & Flood Control Department – IFC, Kashmir told GNS.

The water at 2 p.m. at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, was 13.44ft against the alarm level of 16 ft and flood level of 19 feet, the officials said.
He said that the water level was at 8.76ft, almost 6-ft below flood level at Asham in northern Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
Regarding some tributaries, the official said, the water level in Vishow Nallah at Khudwani was 7.77m, 3.14 m in Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi while the nallah Lidder at Batkoot was at 1.59 m. (GNS)

Poonch, Rajouri plunged into darkness, flash floods wash away small bridges in Pulwama, Tangmarg

Qayoom Khan /MS Nazki/Suhail Khan

Srinagar, June 12 : A nomad from Rajouri was killed and two other members of the family were injured after a tree fell on a tent following high speed winds at upper forest area of Ramwari Gund in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, officials said on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Yousuf Kalada (36) son of Abdul Gani Kalada of Rajouri. The injured Ghulam Haider and Abdul Lateef Sons of Mahmood, both residents of Rajouri, are being evacuated, a police official told GNS.

Meanwhile, two shepherds along with their livestock, around 400-500 Sheep, got stuck in middle of Doodhganga Naala near Sogam bridge in central Kashmir’s Budgam district as there was heavy water flow in the water body due to overnight rainfall, sources said. Soon after coming to know about it, members of administration and local volunteers rushed to the area and constructed a temporary overpass and rescued the shepherds along with livestock.

Meanwhile a diversion (small bridge), constructed post 2014 deluge, at Rumshi Nallah in Rahmoo Pulwama was washed away last night by flash flood.

A Chinar tree also got damaged at Bungam Mohalla area of Rahmoo after a cloudburst struck in the area.

Reports reaching GNS said that heavy rains have wreaked havoc in parts of Kashmir as many houses, shops and roads were damaged by flash floods, triggered by the rains.

In Tangmerg area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, a bridge collapsed due to flash floods on the intervening night of June 11-12.

Reports said the bridge (Shrai Bridge) connects 14 villages of Tangmarg including Chanderhama, Check, Changel, Wanigam, Kulhama, Darhama, Buderkote, Ringawari, Gogaldore, Darakashi, Mushikhur, Zandpal andGaniwani with the national highway.

Meanwhile, overnight winds led to uprooting of trees and damage to electric poles in mountains Poonch and Rajouri district as a result of which there was damage to 33000 KV transmission line.

Most of the places in twin districts are without electricity.

Besides, rooftops of several houses were blown away by the gusty winds in the twin districts last night.

Also a buffalo got killed in lightning at Mandi area of Poonch district.

Deputy Commissioner Poonch Rahul Yadav said that administration has started restoration work and and field staff is under strict to restore the electricity in the district.

Repeated attempts to contact DC Rajouri did not fructify. (GNS)