Budgam, July 21: Dozens of shops were swept away after raging floodwaters of the swollen Sukhnag Nallah washed away the Municipal Shopping Complex at Beerwah in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to commercial property.
The shopping complex, which housed dozens of business establishments, collapsed into the floodwaters after the water level in the Sukhnag Nallah rose sharply following incessant rainfall across the district.
Officials said no loss of life or injuries were reported in the incident as the district administration had issued advance warnings about the deteriorating weather conditions, prompting shopkeepers to vacate the premises and remove their merchandise well before the floodwaters engulfed the complex.
Eyewitnesses said the structure was gradually weakened by the force of the surging waters before being swept away, leaving behind a trail of destruction along the nallah.
The incident occurred amid widespread flooding in several parts of Budgam district, where overflowing streams and flash floods inundated residential areas and disrupted normal life following continuous heavy rainfall.
Officials from the district administration visited the affected area to assess the damage, while the extent of the financial losses suffered by the shopkeepers was being evaluated.
Authorities have urged people to stay away from rivers, nallahs and flood-prone areas and to strictly adhere to official advisories as heavy rainfall continues across parts of Jammu and Kashmir. [KNT]
