ANANTNAG: Twin cloud bursts in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district invited flash floods, destroyed two forest depots and damaged 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 South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Official sources told news agency CNS that the cloud burst hit Dodhwagan and Halsidar villages inviting massive flash floods. The water entered into 80 residential houses at Gowas village while at Dodhwagan village 20 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 hamlets 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, Mr 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 told CNS 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.