Kulgam: The worst hit village due to floods in south Kashmir

90 kms from summer capital of Srinagar, was one of the first major casualties of the devastating floods in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. At least 300 out of the total 375 houses have been damaged and whole population is dislocated.

The village now remains connected only through a makeshift bridge made of a huge tree truck over Vashav stream. This stream originating from famous Ahrabal waterfalls has caused the devastation as it has changed its course due to heavy rainfall and flash floods from September 1 to September 6.

It is now flowing in the middle of the village, through houses, orchards and paddy fields of many inhabitants. The geography of the village remains changed. And even after 12 days of floods, the government is yet to distribute any relief material.

Volunteers from nearby villages are taking care of the locals. “The current government is sick. Many politicians-- Mehbooba Mufti, M Y Tarigami and Sakina Itoo,  came and made empty promises. They didn’t even get a bag of rice with them for our immediate help,” said Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Sarpanch of the village, who claims that the flood has damaged 80% of the houses, crops and orchards.

Bhat pointed at two houses which had collapsed on September 16, many days after the major flood hit the area. Many other structures are likely to fall, as most of the houses are made of bricks and mud. A walk down the main street of the village confirms Bhat’s claims. The road has been washed off and uprooted tree trunks lie on its sides. Villagers are seen removing debris from their houses along with volunteers of Islami Jamiat-e-Talba, a student organization that has deputed scores of its members in the village for relief and rehabilitation operations.

One of the small tree trunk bridges over the stream in interiors of the village passes through kitchen of a damaged house.  Utensils, clothes and electricity wires are seen perched on trees that are still erect. The village in normal circumstances is a postcard picture location with apple orchards, lush green mountains, paddy fields and gushing stream. The area is otherwise yet to be engulfed by the mad concretisation.

Most of the people, as of now are living in local masjid, tents and few houses that were not damaged.

As the water of the stream is comparatively clean now, many inhabitants use it for drinking purposes, which makes them prone to many water borne diseases. And the medicines have not reached the area adequately. The relief camp set up by locals along with IJT volunteers has distributed 70 quintal rice, 2 quintal pulses, 2 quintal sugar, 1.45 quintal tea, 4 quintal oil, 2 quintal salt, 3100 biscuit packets, 900 blankets, 200 beddings and few medicines in last two weeks.

The only good news in the village is that nobody lost life during the flood. “We checked the water level upstream and fled for our lives moments before it breached the embankment and ravaged the village,” said Farooq Ahmed, a teacher, who is now one of the managers of relief camp. Locals claim that six villagers who were trapped in masjid and grave yard were later rescued by Army after few days.