Shivam Bakshi
Rajouri, July 23 (NVI): The district administration in Rajouri has imposed a 60-day ban on public and vehicular movement besides suspending all construction activities in the flood-affected Bela Market and Bela Colony areas following the recent flash floods, officials said on Thursday.
An order issued by the District Magistrate and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Rajouri, said the restrictions were imposed after flash floods in the Rajouri Tawi River caused extensive damage to shops, commercial establishments, vehicles, public infrastructure and the local bus stand in the affected areas.
According to the order, technical inspections conducted by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and other engineering agencies found the affected zone to be highly vulnerable, posing an imminent threat to human life, public safety and property.
The administration has prohibited all public and vehicular movement in the identified flood-hit zone and suspended construction, excavation, dumping and related activities for 60 days pending a detailed hydrological assessment and final demarcation by the competent authorities.
The order also directed the authorities to barricade or close approach roads, link roads and pedestrian tracks leading to the affected stretches of Bela Market, Bela Colony and the Rajouri Tawi River. Concerned departments have been asked to jointly survey and demarcate the vulnerable area, stop any ongoing construction works and submit a compliance report within 24 hours.
Emergency services, including police, SDRF, NDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, medical teams, executive magistrates, revenue and municipal officials, and personnel engaged in authorised flood protection and restoration works have been exempted from the restrictions.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri, has been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the order through police deployment, checkpoints and joint patrols to prevent unauthorised entry into the restricted zone.
The administration appealed to residents to stay away from the affected areas and cooperate with the authorities, warning that violations of the order would attract legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Disaster Management Act, 2005.—(NVI)
