Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 9: It is gathered that photographers from Udupi and Kundapur, who were on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir and got stuck there due to heavy rains which lashed Kashmir valley, are hale and hearty.

30 photographers from various places including Raghavendra Kodangala from the town and Harish from Kundapur, had been on a visit to the picturesque state for getting training in photographing movement of stars that was organized at Ladakh. Although the group was hard-hit by the untimely heavy rain, they did not face undue problems, it is learnt.

Harish, Kodagu couple Madhu and Ashwin

From Ladakh, Raghavendra, Harish, and two other photographers from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra had left to visit Kargil. Raghavendra, who called his friends from Kargil on Saturday said that they had got shelter in a lodge, and that locals said they had never seen such a heavy rainfall in their life. He also said that return tickets by flight that is to leave Srinagar were booked for September 9, and the group is at a loss as how to reach the airport by then.

Harish had also called his family two days back to confirm that he is safe. It is learnt that the friends could not reach the airport although they reached Srinagar on Monday. Although rain had receded, water flow everywhere remained strong, and flood-like situation persisted everywhere. As locals told them that it was safer to remain in Kargil, they returned to Kargil. Raghavendra said he did not face any problems at Kargil.

It is gathered that because of Internet problems at Kargil, ticket booking, and other work could not undertaken since the last two to three days, but telephonic services were available, whereas Srinagar is deprived of telephonic contact. The friends said all the flights from Srinagar stand cancelled till September 12. The friends now plan to visit Ladakh on Tuesday, and undertake return journey to hometown from Leh.

A family from Kushalnagar in Kodagu district is thought to facing peril in Jammu and Kashmir. Madhu Shivakumar HP and Ashwini, who were working in Bangalore, have lost contact with family during their visit to this northernmost state.

H P Madhu Shivakumar happens to be the son of H S Puttaraju, working for a coffee curing works in Kushalnagar. Both Madhu and his wife, Ashwini, had left Bangalore on September 6 on a tour of Jammu and Kashmir through New Delhi. After water level rose in that state, they are not available on cell phone. This has left their family worried. It is said that they had booked a room in Golden Palm in Munnarbad in Srinagar. The family in Kushalnagar has sought help from the state government to rescue their kin.