Budgam, Sep 05 (KNO): Panic and destruction continued to grip Taingan area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday after a breach in the river Jhelum embankment near Zonipora village triggered massive flooding, forcing families to abandon their homes and seek safety along the road and in relatives’ houses.
Locals said floodwaters gushed into residential areas hours after the breach, submerging houses, cowsheds, standing crops and with them, people’s hopes.
“We had no time to save anything. The water came rushing in and we just ran with our children and loved ones towards the road,” said Ghulam Nabi, a resident of Taingan, while pointing to his inundated home, speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The displaced families have now taken refuge on higher ground along the Srinagar-Budgam stretch of the highway and in homes of close relatives.
Women and children were seen huddled under makeshift tents, braving uncertainty. “We are sitting here without proper shelter. It feels like 2014 all over again,” said Shakeela Begum, her eyes filled with tears, as she spoke to KNO.
Locals also said that repeated pleas to strengthen the embankment had gone unheard. “Every time there is heavy rain, this spot is vulnerable. Authorities ignored our warnings and now we are paying the price,” said another resident.
Officials said efforts were underway to plug the breach and assess the damage, adding that work on the embankment would start within days.
Meanwhile, Taingan’s residents wait anxiously on the highway, watching the floodwaters swallow their homes, hoping for swift relief and rehabilitation—(KNO)