Next 24 Hours Crucial: Met Office

Flood Threat Continues to Haunt Kashmir

SRINAGAR:  After a brief respite, heavy rains lashed Kashmir Valley, including capital Srinagar on Wednesday, sparking flood fears yet again. According to the Meteorological Department no improvement in weather is expected till April 3 (Friday). 

MeT Office Director Sonam Lotus said that moderate to heavy rains will continue to lash Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions till Friday. “There is a precipitation due to interaction between the currents and Western Disturbances prevalent over all the three regions of the State,” he said adding that next 24 hours are going to be crucial.

Lotus said that rainfall with such intensity during the month of March was only recorded in 1983 and this time in the month of March Kashmir has witnessed 300mm rainfall.

According to reports, the water in River Jhelum at Sangam , Ram Munshi Bagh and Asham Sumbal receded however in North Kashmir’s Sopore and Baramulla towns the water level has been showing an upward trend. 

While the water level in south Kashmir’s Sangam gauge went down through the day to 10.75 feet at 5 p.m. to 11 feet at 8 p.m. at Srinagar gauge—Ram Munshi Bagh—the level remained stagnant at 14.60 feet from 5 to 8 p.m. 

The incessant rains, which threw life out of gear across Kashmir, also triggered a flood alert in North Kashmir areas. Several houses in Maharaj Pora, Watlab Ghat, Takiabal Ghat, Sher Colony and Haritar in Sopore town were submerged in water. 

“We have issued flood alert for Sopore and asked the people living along the banks of River Jhelum to move to safer places. The level of Jhelum in Sopore is increasing. We have made all arrangements and are ready to meet any eventuality,” SDM Sopore Dr Nasir said adding the situation is being monitored closely.

Chief Engineer Flood and Irrigation Control Javid Jaffer said the situation in Srinagar is being closely monitored “There has been no increase in water levels in rivers,” he said.

The administration has again asked people living on the banks of Jhelum to shift to safer places. An official said that with no respite in rainfall, flood threat is still looming.

In Srinagar, at least two houses collapsed due to water logging at Lal Bazar and Narbal. Water logging according to reports has been turning out the major concern for the people. Many areas in Srinagar were inundated Wednesday due to heavy rains, disrupting normal life. These included Safa Kadal, Eidgah, Ali Jan Road, Nowshehra, Soura,Gulshan Nagar, Gogji Bagh, Wazir Bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh and Bemina.

At various places water spilled from drains and flood channels have entered into the residential houses. At Rajbagh, the business establishments and government offices, including Pollution Control Board, Wild Life Deptt and Cooperative Bank are completely water logged.

In Baramulla police shifted five families during night comprising of 37 souls at village Dangerpora, relocated and shifted to their relatives houses in the same village.

In Uri town of Baramulla district, authorities closed the road and didn’t allow any vehicle to cross the NS Bridge after a minor landslide. However, the road was cleared after three hours for the traffic.

Shopian police shifted a family of Mohammad Anwar Ganie son of Fatah Ganie resident of D.K Pora, Zainapora to safer place as their residential house collapsed.

The water level of Rambiara Nallah in the district was static however, reports said several villages were submerged.

In Tral area of Pulwama district, the administration evacuated hundreds of people from Chanakatar after earth started sinking.

Incessant rains also caused water-logging in all major towns of South Kashmir including Anantnag, Bijbehara, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Kakpora, Rajpora, Awantipora, Pampore and others, causing problems for pedestrians and also hampering the movement of traffic.

Heavy rainfall resulted in closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway for most part of the day, officials of Traffic department said here. An official advised people to confirm the status of the highway on Thursday before proceeding towards Jammu or Srinagar.

An official spokesman said the Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed is personally monitoring the situation that has arisen due to incessant rain in the State. “ The Chief Minister has put the State Administration on high alert, directing them to be at the beck and call of the people wherever required,” he said.

Chief Minister has directed the Divisional Commissioners to place senior officers on alert for monitoring the situation and initiate all necessary measures to safeguard the people. He directed them to keep control rooms operational round-the-clock so that there is close contact between the people and the concerned officers.

“Mufti Muhammad Sayeed received brief from the administration about the situation in Kulgam, Shopian, Baramulla, Srinagar and other areas. He said that rescue operations on war-footing should be carried out wherever need arises,” the official said. 

Fresh Avalanche Alert Sounded

According to a communication received from the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, an avalanche warning exists for next 24 hours from April 01 to April 02 in the avalanche prone areas of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts.

In view of the above, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts have been directed to advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas during above mentioned period. 

During heavy snowfall, people have been advised not to occupy and temporarily evacuate those locations which are under fall line of avalanches.

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