BANDIPORA: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad on Wednesday conducted a marathon tour of various areas of Ajas and Sumbal sub division to take first hand appraisal of the situation arising after the incessant rains.
The DC visited several areas of Bandipora and Sumbal Sub Division and assessed the situation arising due to the heavy rains. He directed the officers to maintain strict vigil in their respective areas with regard to landslides and water logging due to heavy rains.
Dr Owais also visited embankments of river Jhelum and other streams.
On the occasion, the officers of Irrigation and Flood Control, Disaster Management and other agencies informed that all the preventive measures are being taken to ensure safety of the people. They said the weak embankments have already been identified and fixed while a continuous vigil is being maintained across all the water bodies and additional sandbags have been stocked to meet any exigency.
The DC said that he has already directed the concerned officers to keep their ground staff on alert and send them to critical spots to assess the situation.
He directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Officers to undertake immediate corrective action that might be required to ensure vulnerable spots if any are immediately strengthened wherever required.
The DC also took a brief look at the water logging issue and directed the officers to ensure de-watering at earliest. He was informed that Department of Fire Services, SDRF, Municipal Committees are already on job for dewatering in water logged areas of Sumbal.
Later, the DC also inspected Ajas bridge and the diversion over the stream owing to construction of the bridge. He directed the officers to ensure diversion is properly maintained to ensure smooth traffic on Bandipora-Srinagar road.
Officers informed that in view of overflow of the diversion at Ajas Bridge due to incessant rainfall, traffic has been allowed to ply through newly constructed bridge for smooth plying of vehicular traffic.
Earlier, on the directions of Deputy Commissioner, Additional District Development Commissioner Bandipora Mohammad Ashraf Hakak inspected the Gundbal bridge that was partially damaged due to rains. He directed to immediately stop the traffic movement on the bridge till the embankments are repaired and strengthened.
He directed the officers to immediately start the work so that the bridge can be opened for traffic at an earliest.