Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Apr 20: As the water level in river Jhelum and its tributaries is rising, the authorities have today put the staff on alert to meet any flood threat in Kashmir valley.
Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department Javed Jaffar told Excelsior that water level at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh was about to touch 21 and 18 feet tonight.
Jaffar said that in Srinagar it has touched flood mark but there is no threat as such. The water level is rising slowly as compared to morning when it was rising alarmingly due to overnight heavy rains. “People residing along the river/nallah embankments and low lying areas are advised to remain alert,” he said.
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Gazzanfar Hussain convened a high level meeting to assess the situation arisen out of incessant rains and rising water level of Jhelum and other rivulets across Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Chief Engineers UEED, PDD, PHE, Commissioner SMC, SSP Srinagar besides other concerned senior officers.
Hussain told Excelsior that as such there is no threat as water level is rising slowly but added that he has directed all the field staff to remain alert in view of rising waters. He has directed the employees to immediately report for duty in their respective places and spots.
Divisional Commissioner directed the concerned authorities to ensure dewatering of all low lying inundated areas besides preparing a comprehensive project report for preventing water logging in these areas in future.
Hussain asked the PHE and PDD authorities to ensure uninterrupted water and power supply to the consumers. He asked the officers to press into service water tankers wherein necessity arises and to stick to the power curtailment schedule in non-metered areas.
Several nallas in North Kashmir, Central Kashmir and South Kashmir were also flooded this morning due to heavy overnight rains. The Ferozpora Nallah and Beerwah Ara in Tangmarg area of Baramulla and Beerwah in Budgam were flowing above danger mark inundating several areas.
The Srinagar-Baramulla national highway was closed today due to water logging at Hanjiweera and Hyder Baigh in Pattan area. Magam-Beerwah road was also inundated due to flood waters.
Residents said that both the rivulets were flowing above danger mark causing inundation.
The district administration and police evacuated many families from Panzipora, Haritaar, Rakhi-Hygam, Ali Bagh, Trikulbul, Hanjiweera and Agrikalan villages. At these villages and many other places, boats were pressed into service in order to evacuate the people from the inundated areas and to facilitate their movement.
There was water logging at Pingliana, Garbugh and Badibagh in Pulwama and several diversions of bridges were washed away snapping road communication in these areas.
Panic gripped the flood prone areas of Kashmir valley especially Srinagar after incessant rains and cloud bursts in South Kashmir. Some of the people had fled to safer places but majority stayed put.
There was snowfall in the hills of North Kashmir and Kargil after continuous rains.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, issued medium danger of avalanche warning for next 24 hours in avalanche prone areas of Kargil district.
The Deputy Commissioner Kargil has been asked to advise people not to venture out in avalanche prone areas. People of these areas are also advised to temporarily evacuate those locations which are under fall line of avalanches.
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