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1 feared killed in Devak flash flood

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 8/18/2019 3:23:59 AM

# 14 stuck in flash floods rescued in Kathua # House collapses in Samba

JAMMU, Aug 17: Heavy rains that lashed almost entire Jammu region during past 48 hours disrupted normal life by triggering flash floods in Tawi, Ujh, Basantar, Devak rivers and inundating vast areas endangering life and properties in different districts.
One youth was feared killed in flash flood in Devak river while another was rescued in village Nagrota area of block Vijaypur. In the meanwhile, a house also collapsed due to torrential rain at Palli Mandi area of Gurha Slathia block Vijaypur in Samba district.
Fourteen people were rescued on Saturday following flash floods in Kathua district, where heavy rains disrupted normal life, officials said. Eleven people, belonging to a nomadic community, were stuck in flash floods in Ujh river in Rajbagh area and were subsequently rescued by the Kathua police along with SDRF personnel, a police official said. The rescued people were shifted to a safer location, he added. In another rescue operation in Ujh river, policemen saved three people.
In Samba two siblings of village Nagrota area of block Vijaypur washed away in flash flood. According to the report, the incident happened this morning when two brothers namely Parveen Kumar and Tarsem Lal both sons of Madan Lal resident of village Nagrota area of block Vijaypur were crossing Devak river. Suddenly the water level of the river increased, as a result both brothers were swept away by fast currents. Parveen Kumar, somehow, managed to save himself and yet Tarsem Lal washed away. Parveen immediately informed the villagers regarding the incident. The villagers informed the police, which along with SDRF teams launched the rescue operation in Devak but even after hectic efforts, they could not find Tarsem. Later the rescue operation called off. Tomorrow morning the team would again launch rescue operation.
In a related incident, a house collapsed due to torrential rain at Palli Mandi area of Gurha Slathia block Vijaypur in Samba district. According to the report, a house belonging to Dil Raj Singh son of Kesari Singh collapsed in Mandi Palli area of Gurha Slathia in torrential rains. However, there was no loss of life in the incident.
In Kathua district, teams of local police and SDRF headed by Ravinder Singh SDPO Border Chadwal along with Inspector Manjeet Singh SHO Police Station Rajbag with swift and timely action rescued 11 precious lives of nomadic community (Gujjar) who were trapped in flash floods of Ujh river and shifted them to safer location. In another rescue operation in Ujh river in the jurisdiction of Police Post Nagri near village Pandori, Police team successfully rescued 3 persons of nomadic community. Several low-lying areas were completely submerged.
Later Deputy Commissioner Kathua Dr Raghav Langer conducted an extensive tour of the flood-prone areas of the district to take stock of the flood-like situation caused by recent incessant rains.
While inspecting flood-prone areas, the DC directed Irrigation and Flood Control authorities to expedite the strengthening work on embankments in these areas so that the situation will remain under control.