PAMPORE, July 20: Heavy rainfall on Monday morning triggered widespread flooding and severe waterlogging in Patalbagh, Samboora and adjoining areas of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, inundating more than 15 residential houses and disrupting normal life.
The Srinagar–Pulwama road at Patalbagh was also submerged due to the accumulation of rainwater, affecting traffic movement and causing inconvenience to commuters.
Soon after the incident, Tehsildar Pampore Malik Asif Ahmad visited the affected areas, assessed the situation, interacted with residents and supervised the launch of drainage operations to remove the accumulated rainwater from the inundated localities.
Later, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Awantipora Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, accompanied by Tehsildar Pampore Malik Asif Ahmad, Naib Tehsildar Pampore Iftikhar Ahmad and officials from the Flood Control Department, inspected the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage and review the ongoing restoration efforts.
Interacting with the affected families, the ADC assured them that the district administration was responding on priority and that all concerned departments had been directed to expedite the drainage operations.
“The concerned teams are on the job, and we expect the accumulated water to be drained from the affected houses within a short time. I have also instructed the concerned departments to conduct a detailed survey of the affected areas. The findings will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner’s office so that appropriate measures can be taken to address this recurring issue and prevent such incidents in the future,” ADC Mushtaq Ahmad Lone said.
Tehsildar Pampore Malik Asif Ahmad said the administration had received distress calls from several flood-affected localities, including Patalbagh, immediately after the heavy rainfall and responded without delay.
“We appeal to people not to dump plastic waste into drains and water bodies, as it blocks the natural flow of water and worsens flooding during the monsoon. Encroachments on water bodies are another major reason for recurring waterlogging. Strict action will be taken against those found dumping waste or illegally encroaching upon drainage channels and water bodies,” he said.
The district administration continued dewatering operations throughout the day as officials worked to clear the inundated areas and restore normalcy. The prompt response by the administration brought relief to the affected residents, who expressed hope that a permanent solution would be implemented to tackle the recurring problem of waterlogging in the area.
Meanwhile, Bartiya Janta Party senior leader Mohammad Lateef Bhat also visited the affected areas and interacted with the residents. He appreciated the district administration for its swift response to the situation and urged the authorities to take long-term preventive measures to address the recurring problem of waterlogging so that such incidents do not recur in the future.
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