Flood-like situation in Kathua following rain, alert sounded

Sanjay Pathak

Kathua, September 23

Incessant rain for the past 18 hours have caused a flood-like situation in the Bani town of Kathua district, which is situated along the banks of the Sewa river. The water level in the river rose abruptly to the danger mark, forcing the authorities of the Sewa Hydel Power Project-II to open all four gates of the dam.

The overflowing water of the river entered the famous Manjiri park of the Bani tehsil. The administration has announced a holiday in all schools falling in the Bani subdivision on Monday. People have been advised to remain in their homes.

Subdivisional Magistrate, Bani, Ajeet Singh said the administration was in touch with the dam authorities and was getting hourly reports.

The danger level of the hydel project is 1,200 cusecs and in the morning hours, the water level reached up to 1,657 cusecs, forcing the authorities to open all floodgates which brought the level to 1,500 cusecs.

Almost all roads in the town have been blocked due to landslides. Apart from the Basohli-Bani road, the Basohli-Mashka, Basohli-Dhar Mahanpur, Bani-Bhaderwah, Bani-Taggar and Bani-Rolka roads have been blocked.

The water level in the Ujh river, which traverses from the Ujh Rajbagh area of Kathua along the national highway, has also increased and there are apprehensions that the level may cross the danger mark of 85,000 cusecs in the night. All 21 floodgates of the Ujh barrage have been opened as precautionary measures.