The Kashmir Pulse

PULWAMA — Local residents in Gundipora village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district are facing a persistent flood threat as an old river embankment was eroded on Wednesday.

Locals, while speaking to The Kashmir Pulse, said that the river embankment shielded the locality against rising water levels and consequent flood waters. However, the villagers are now facing a perilous situation.

The aggrieved residents said the erosion of the river embankment exposes Gundipora and several nearby villages to floods and inundation.

The local people are now living in terror of the flood water from the river breaching into the locality including a Jamia Masjid, in case of heavy rainfall in the catchment area.

"We have been calling the officials to act sooner on this embankment but the government officials have only been doing mere lip service," an elderly man, who did not disclose his name, said.

He added that some officials came to the area only to assure that the embankment will be taken care of. "We appeal to the local authorities including the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Baseer-ul-Haq to repair the embankment in the shortest possible time, so that we could also have a peaceful sleep."

It is in place to mention here that the Valley of Kashmir usually witnesses frequent rainfall up to the month of September, which elevates the flood risk for Gundipora village if the river embankment is left unrepaired.

Pertinently, various areas in Pulwama district witnessed a flood-like situation on June 22 after incessant rains continued for four consecutive days in the Valley.

The villages of Achan, Pinglena, Gundipora were particularly affected as some important roads were not motorable.

PULWAMA — Various areas in south Kashmir's Pulwama district witnessed a flood-like situation on Wednesday after incessant rains continued for the fourth consecutive day in the Valley.

The villages of Achan, Pinglena, Gundipora were particularly affected as some important roads were not motorable.

In Achan village, a bridge was reportedly washed off by flash floods causing inconvenience to commuters, following which the district administration closed Pinglena and the main Kakapora road.

Locals said some villages have completely been cut off due to the water logging.

It is in place to mention here that heavy rains over the past four days have led to a rise in the level of most water bodies in Kashmir with the Jhelum river crossing the flood alarm mark at Sangam in Anantnag district on Wednesday.

SRINAGAR — Two militants of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) were killed in an overnight gunfight in Gundipora area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday, police said.

"01 more militant killed (Total 2). 02 AK rifles recovered. Search going on. Further details shall follow," police said in a tweet.

The gunfight had started on the evening of Sunday and was suspended for the night due to darkness. "The gunfight resumed this morning," a police official told GNS.

Soon after the encounter between militants and the joint team of police and Army started, IGP Kashmir had said that two local militants of JeM are trapped, including one of them allegedly involved in the killing of policeman Reyaz Ahmad.

"JeM militant Abid Shah had killed our unarmed colleague on 13/5/22," the IGP said in the tweet.

SRINAGAR — A militant was killed in an ongoing gunfight at Gundipora Pinglena area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday.

In this connection, Kashmir Police Zone tweeted, "01 militant killed. Operation in progress. Further details shall follow."

Yesterday evening, a joint team of police and Army launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

As the joint team of forces zeroed in on the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired on the joint team, which was retaliated, triggering off a gunfight.

Yesterday, IGP Kashmir in a tweet said, "2 local militants of outfit JeM trapped in encounter including (the) killer of our Martyr Constable Reyaz Ahmad. JeM militant Abid Shah had killed our unarmed colleague on 13/5/22."

PULWAMA — An encounter broke out between security forces and militants at Gundipora village in Pinglena area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Sunday.

An official told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF, after receiving information about the presence of militants, launched a search operation in the area.

He said that as the joint team of forces intensified searches towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the party, which was retaliated, thus triggering an encounter.

He said that the exchange of fire is on in the area and two to three militants are believed to be trapped in the area.

Two JeM militants trapped: IGP Kashmir

Inspector-General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Sunday said that two Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants, including the killer of cop Reyaz Ahmad, are trapped in the ongoing encounter at Pulwama.

On the behalf of IGP Kashmir, Kashmir Police Zone tweeted, "02 local militants of outfit JeM trapped in encounter including killer of our Martyr Constable Reyaz Ahmad. JeM militant Abid Shah had killed our unarmed colleague on 13/5/22."