MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Heavy monsoon rains have resulted in the death of one person in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on August 14, while several roads have been blocked due to landslides.
A person drowned in a drain in Betran Ghanas village of Sudhanoti district, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) confirmed.
Moreover, flash floods in the drains also damaged bridges in Muzaffarabad, including the Sadiqa bridge in Machiara National Park, disconnecting Bheri Union Council and Machiara village.
Continuous heavy rains for the past five hours have also caused havoc in various places across the Jhelum Valley district. According to the initial reports, 6 shops, 2 communication bridges, roads, and 1 private school have been destroyed in the district.
In Neelum district, the drains of Dwarian Ratti Gali, Kharigam, Jagran, and Lawat overflowed. The drains in Leswa, Domilan, and Gehal also overflowed
Roads to the tourist destinations, including Ratti Gali and Patlian Lake, have been temporarily closed.
“Traffic has been suspended on the Muzaffarabad-Abbottabad highway at Lohargali and Bani Hafiz Road Barhoor in Jhelum Valley district due to landslides,” the SDMA spokesperson said.
The authority confirmed that road clearance work is currently underway and that all main roads in the region are open for traffic.
The SDMA further added that since June 1, 13 people have died, 10 were injured, and 366 livestock have been killed due to rains and landslides.
It further forecasted rain and thunderstorms in isolated parts of Azad Kashmir during the next 24 hours. The SDMA has directed tourists and citizens to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel due to the threat of landslides.
In addition to that, the authority released the current situation of the water flow in rivers across the region.
“The current water flow in River Jhelum is 7,952 cusecs at Chakothi, 622 cusecs in River Neelum at Karimabad, and 5,424 cusecs in River Poonch at Kotli,” it stated.
