March 30, 2015

FLOOD FEAR GIVES SLEEPLESS NIGHTS TO PEOPLE

Incessant rain since Saturday evening triggered flash floods, landslides, damaged houses and sent river waters surging, causing panic and migration of people towards safer areas in several parts of low lying areas in Kashmir Valley that is still to recover from the devastating floods of September last year.

A senior official of Irrigation and Flood Control Department told Kashmir Glory that the current water level in the Jhelum is flowing close to the danger mark.

“The water level recorded at 3:00 am at the Ram Munshi bagh is 17.90 feet (against danger mark 23)– while at Sangam it is flowing above the danger mark at 21.55- (against danger mark of 21) and at Asham the level recorded is 10.33 (against the danger mark of 14 feet)”, the official said.

As the water level was seen increasing in Jhelum very close to the danger mark, at Srinagar’s Ram Munshi bagh. Like the last time, those living close on its banks moved to the top – mostly third – floors of their homes.

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Meanwhile, reports reaching here said that people from areas living adjacent to river Jehlum including Rajbagh, Mehjoor Nagar and Padshahi Bagh have vacated their homes and rushed towards safer places.

“We have decided to shift from our house and cleared shops of goods,” Ghulam Rasool Mir, a local trader, said.

“All emergency services have been pressed into service to meet any eventuality of flood,” Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Farooq Lone said.

He advised people living along the banks of Jhelum to remain vigilant and shift the elderly and children to safer places.

Earlier, authorities urged people not to panic and said that the entire administration is on alert.

Later at around, 12:40 am, the Divisional Administration of Kashmir issued a statement to media sounding flood alert in the valley and asked the people living on the banks of river Jhelum to remain alert and vigilant.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of residents in Pulwama and Srinagar districts were shifted to safer locations by authorities on Sunday. Several areas in Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Kunzar were cut off after flash floods washed away bridges.

Several houses were damaged in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, where 221 families were moved to higher planes. Fifteen more families were evacuated elsewhere due to the fresh rains.