Flash floods triggered by a possible cloudburst in the upper reaches occurred in the Kullan area of Kangan in Ganderbal district on Monday, blocking the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. The flashfloods in the nallah snaking through Shah Mohalla Kullan occurred due to a possible cloudburst on Monday afternoon following a heavy spell of rain.
However, there are no reports of any loss of life or damage to property. The flash floods also resulted in the closure of Srinagar-Leh National Highway near Kullan due to which traffic remains suspended on both sides of the highway. Later, the authorities pressed machinery to clear the road after which traffic was restored.
Meanwhile, the families living in the nearby localities where flash floods occurred urged the district administration to construct a bridge at the place besides the construction of a concrete protection wall alongside the nallah prone to flash floods. “We have been suffering for several years now. Whenever there are rains, the nallah flowing alongside Shah Mohallah Kullan is flooded,” said Irfan Ahmad, a local.
He said that a culvert constructed here gets blocked by rocks and trees uprooted by flashfloods and the water overflows and enters nearby houses, causing massive damage to the property. Ahmad said that there is always a threat to life. Another local said that they had many times urged the administration for the excavation of boulders from the nallah so that its width and depth as well as the water carrying capacity is increased.
Meanwhile, A machine operator died Monday evening after rains and a cloud burst resulted in flash floods in the Bankoot area of Banihal, officials said. Officials said a cloud burst hit the upper reaches of Bankoot village near Banihal, causing flash floods in the Gagarwah Bankoot streams.
A machine operator working on the Bankoot-Gujjarnar link road was washed away in the flash floods, they said. The flash floods also damaged the under-construction Bankoot-Gujjarnar road and swept away an L&T machine, a JCB machine, and other machinery.
Police said after receiving information about a person being swept away in the floodwaters in Bankoot Nallah, local teams from Bankoot, police, and Banihal volunteer teams rushed to the spot and initiated a rescue operation.
They said following intense efforts, the body of the deceased was retrieved from the nullah. The deceased was identified as 28-year-old machine helper Zahir Ahmed son of Abdul Qayoom, a resident of Manjoos in Tehsil Khari.
He died on the spot, and doctors confirmed his death upon arrival at the hospital, they said. A case has been registered at PS Banihal and further investigations started.
