Cloudburst triggers flash flood in Kashmir & Himachal (Video)

Srinagar/Shimla:Several residential houses and roads were damaged in a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst that hit central Kashmir district of Ganderbal early Monday.

Official sources said that a cloudburst hit village Watlar in Ganderbal, triggering a flash flood in a local stream. Several houses and roads were damaged in the incident.

However, no loss of life has been reported. A joint team of Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has launched a rescue operation in the area to evacuate people from vulnerable spots, they said.According to the sources, an operation to restore road connectivity to the area was underway.

Incessant and heavy showers on Monday wreaked havoc in several parts of Himachal Pradesh, including Dharmshala, Mcleodganj, Bhagsunag, Shahpur and parts of Shimla district.Many vehicles parked at Bhagsunag got washed away and buried in the muck as very heavy rain lashed high reaches.

The water level of a rivlet rose above the danger mark at Chauntra area of Dharmshala flattening four to five shops on the bank of river. A portion of highway was also damaged by the flash flood and rising of water level.

Reports of very heavy rain also poured in from Shahpur area of Kangra district and other places where loss of properties have been reported.

Deputy commissioner Kangra Mr Nipun Jindal has issued an emergency alert warning people to take precautions as very heavy rainfall is to create a flood-like situation in the district for next three to four days.

He said that heavy rain and inclement weather could snap the power, telephone and other communications services in next two days.

State administration has advised the tourists and local people against venturing out from their residence and hotels without verifying the condition of roads and flood situation.The DM said that all the officials should sounds high alert in their respective areas and rescue teams be kept in ready to save the lives and avert the loss to property after ensuring 24x7 services during the inclement weather.

The very heavy rainfall blocked national, state and other link road in the state disrupting vehicular traffic.Hindustan Tibet National Highway remained off for couple of hours this morning at Jakhari near the border of Shimla and Kinnaur district.

The landslides also blocked the link roads in the Shimla district disrupting movement of commuters and stranded vehicles on the roads.(UNI)