Three years ago on intervening night of 20th and 21st July 2017, a horrific incident occurred in Main Bazaar Thathri which stills haunts the locals who were present there. It was around 2am of 21st July 2017, when cloud burst in the upper reaches of Thathri tehsil, it sounds like the earthquake in the beginning and in the meantime, whole residents of the town started running out of houses. Some people were shouting “Flood Aaya Hai Bazaar Sab Khatam Hogya”, “Bhaago Bahar Niklo” and “Kishtwar Pull Gir Gaya” and many much more rumours were spread across town. No one initially knows what happened, everyone was in fear, some lift the holy books Quran and ran away and gathering aside of national highway, some of them started repeatedly counting Tasbīḥ and remember God. Later, people got the information from others who went to the incident site. There was a flood in Tipri Nallah (stream) near National Academy School Thathri due to cloudburst which took six lives, and the school building were damaged and number of houses were destroyed.
The flood affected victims many times demanded construction of foot bridges so that no new tragedy happen again. The floods washed away bridges and footpaths in the area which have not been restored till today completely. Meanwhile, the stream was repaired and bordering walls were built but due to non availability of foot bridge, people have to step inside the stream for crossing it. Number of resolutions, requests were presented in front of administration but till date no footbridge constructed at the spot.
On 21 March 2020, a Municipal Committe officials of Thathri started clearance of debris damped in the stream which would cause blockage of the stream. Talking to the correspondent Anzer Ayoob on the same event, Municipal Chairman Mansoor Ahmed told that they have started the work and footbridge will be constructed soon. But till that the “soon” is not completed. The interview by Anzer Ayoob on this issue is still present on The Chenab Times.
Talking to State Observer correspondent, a floods affected victim Mohd Saleem said, “We are facing many difficulties after flash floods damaged our houses, footpaths and bridges. We requested the authorities to reconstruct the bridge many times as school children faced difficulties but nobody took cognizance.”
The residents urged the District as well as Lieutenant Governor administration to look into the matter.
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Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times
