Srinagar: Twin cloud bursts in Anantnag district, in south of Kashmir, invited flash floods, destroying two forest depots and damaging 13 water-supply schemes.
Officials said that the property worth lakhs has been damaged due to cloud burst that hit Dodhwagan and Halsidar villages of Verinag in Anantnag.
Official sources told news agency CNS that the cloud burst hit Dodhwagan and Halsidar villages inviting massive flash floods.
The water entered into eighty residential houses at Gowas village while at Dodhwagan village twenty houses were affected due to flash floods.
“The locals were rescued and evacuated to safer places,” the official said.
Though no loss of life has been reported from any hamlet, so far, however the cloud bursts up rooted at least 13 water supply schemes including Halsidar-Khelan, Nawgam-Shahabad, Dokha-Kalanag, Rein-Batagund, Oot-Dodhwagan and other schemes.
Executive Engineer PHE, Pandita said that once the water level recedes, restoration work on these water supply schemes will be taken up on priority basis.
He said scores of villages have been affected and people are facing shortage of water due to damage to these water supply schemes.
Forester Verinag, Pir Muhammad Shafi said that 5000 square feet timber lying at compartment numbers 28 and 29 at Halsidar and compartment numbers 51 and 52 at Dodhwagan village was washed away by the gushing waters.
An official said that administration has provided all kinds of assistance to the affected people.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Power, Industries and Commerce, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi visited Dooru Constituency and assessed damage caused due to cloud burst on yesterday evening.
The Minister affected areas including Dudgagan and Qamar villages and took stock of the damage to the property and crops.
Various officials of District Administration Anantnag including Additional District Development Commissioner accompanied the Minister.
On the occasion, the Minister was apprised that 13 water supply schemes were damaged besides power supply was also interrupted in the area.
The Minister directed the PHE authorities to ensure immediate restoration of drinking water supply in the area. He also ordered for immediate clearance of debris in these areas.
Syed Andrabi also directed the PHE Department to start construction work on protection bund on both the sides of Dudgagan Nallah immediately.
He also asked them for widening of the Nallah. He also asked the Public Works Department to raise bund on both sides at approach road near Dudgagan Bridge.
The Minister called for close coordination between officials of PDD, PHE, Irrigation, Flood Control and R&B Departments to ensure timely completion of all developmental projects.
The Minister also asked the Power Development Department for immediate restoration of power supply to the affected area.
Taking stock of electricity supply in the area, the Minister directed the concerned to speed up the pace of work on installation of poles at Sheikhpora and Thaman villages and ensure their timely completion.
Later, the Minister held a meeting with the Officers at Veerinag and reviewed overall development scenario of Dooru Constituency.
The Minister directed the Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies Department to ensure essential commodities like rice, sugar and atta to the consumers of the Constituency well in time. He also asked the concerned departments to gear up their field functionaries and speed up the pace of work on all ongoing development works in the Constituency.
The Minister directed the revenue department to depute a team of officers on the spot for assessment of losses and submit a detailed report in this regard to the Government for further necessary action.
