Ganderbal, April 16: Residents of Akhone Mohalla, Rayil Nad, and Lone Mohallah Ramwari Gund area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district were gripped with fear as heavy rains caused a sudden surge in water flow in a drainage channel, inundating residential homes and agricultural land.
Local residents recounted how the unexpected rise in water levels prompted them to evacuate their homes in haste.
Riaz Ahmed Butt, a resident, expressed frustration over the lack of action by government authorities despite his efforts to draw attention to the need for strengthening the banks of the town’s drainage channel.
Mohammad Ashraf Chichi, another local resident, lamented the damage caused to his agricultural land and the looming threat to his residence due to the overflowing canal after the downpour. He criticized the Jal Shakti Department for failing to supply the necessary pipes for drinking water, forcing people to resort to polluted river water.
Furthermore, residents highlighted the urgent need for a robust drainage system to mitigate such incidents in the future. Despite persistent appeals to the concerned authorities, no concrete steps have been taken to address the issue, leaving the community vulnerable to recurring disasters.
Meanwhile due to incessant heavy rains, rainwater infiltrated residential homes in Lone Mohalla, Ramwari of Gund Tehsil.
Following reports of continuous rainfall in the Kashmir Valley, Lone Mohalla in Ramwari Gund was affected. Upon receiving the information, the SDRF Gund unit, Gund Police, CRPF 118 Battalion, 34 Assam Rifles, and other relevant departments swiftly initiated rescue operations, including the deployment of JCBs to redirect water flow. However, the situation at the affected site is still being closely monitored for further improvements.
Locals are calling upon the Ganderbal district administration to expedite the construction of a sturdy embankment along the said Nallah to ensure the safety and well-being of the town’s inhabitants
