Climate Change
Flash-floods destroy livelihoods in Ganderbal
Nuner, Ganderbal: On July 30 bad weather triggered a flash-flood in Nunar region of Ganderbal district, causing widespread destruction to local housing, orchards and agricultural fields. The Pandachkot canal breached its banks and raging waters bought debris and driftwood into the houses and roads connecting the village to the rest of the district.
Shahzana, 40, was looking at her makeshift house which had been washed away with the flash-flood.
Her husband Farooq Ahmad Sheikh who operates a load carrier auto also lost his livelihood as his vehicle was damaged in the flood.
Shahzana says she is worried about her three children.
“We don’t have money. Our financial conditions aren’t good and we have children to look after. My husband works as a laborer, and we are in desperate need of financial aid so that we can get back on our feet,” she said.
Locals claimed that no proper help came to them and they had to clear the debris from their houses by arranging heavy machinery themselves.
Altaf Ahmad a local whose house was also damaged said, “I offered money to the JCB operator who was leaving after clearing the road, to help clear the debris from my lawn, he refused. I was worried as water could come again and this time I would lose my house.”
Locals were aghast as no official had come to their aid. The locals say that authorities cleared the roads and they were left to fend for themselves.
While speaking to Free Press Kashmir Tehsildar, Ganderbal said, “we are assessing the damages, we’ll submit a detailed report to the DC office and the local affected will be provided with relief accordingly.”
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