Jhelum crosses danger mark
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 29
A rare spell of heavy rainfall triggered a threat of flood in the Kashmir valley on Friday as the Jhelum and its tributaries rose rapidly and dangerously and crossed the ‘flood declaration’ level.
The Jhelum rose at an alarming rate as heavy rainfall lashed the region’s southern districts, where the river and its main tributaries originate. Within just 24 hours, the river’s water level at Sangam in south Kashmir rose by 20 feet from the Thursday’s morning 1.78 feet. At 3 pm, the river had crossed the 18-foot mark, the designated level for announcing a ‘flood alert’ in south Kashmir and at 6 pm, the river crossed the 21-foot mark at Sangam, the designated ‘flood declaration’ mark.
The Irrigation and Flood Control Department, which is continuously monitoring the situation and making hourly announcements about the river’s rising level, issued an alert for residents of south Kashmir.
The Irrigation and Flood Control Department, which is continuously monitoring the situation and making hourly announcements about the river’s level, issued an alert for residents of south Kashmir.
“In view of precipitation, forecast and rise in water levels, the habitations along the tributaries of south Kashmir, especially Vishow Nullah and Lidder Nullah are advised to remain vigilant during (the) day and also night today to avoid any sudden flood damage,” the department said.
In Srinagar, where the district administration announced a helpline for assistance in view of the incessant rainfall, the river’s level at 4 pm had touched 12.35 feet and was nearly four feet short of 16-foot flood alert mark.
The heavy rainfall, which continued over the past 24 hours, was mostly concentrated in south Kashmir districts. It also caused the water level in the river’s tributaries to increase steeply.
Vishow Nullah, a tributary which has caused flash floods earlier, touched 9.09 meter at Khudwani while Rambiyara Nullah touched 2.89 meter at Wachi and Lidder Nullah touched 1.7 meter at Batkoot.
The rainfall over the past 24 hours was one of the heaviest and widespread in almost a year in Kashmir, which had witnessed lengthy spells of dry weather that sparked a threat of drought in the region.
According to the Meteorological Department, which has forecast rains for the next three days, the intensity and spread of rain was likely to lessen.
Fareed Reshi, Executive Engineer of the Flood Control Department in south Kashmir, said a glimmer of hope appeared in the late afternoon as rainfall stopped in Anantnag district. “The rain has stopped for the past hour but the run-off is still coming. We are hopeful it will ease,” he said. Another official of the Irrigation Department in south Kashmir said “many canals have been damaged” across south Kashmir.
Governor reviews flood preparedness
- In view of the situation arising due to incessant rains in the Kashmir valley, Governor NN Vohra on Friday reviewed the flood preparedness with Adviser BB Vyas and officers from other departments concerned
- The Governor directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and all DCs of the Kashmir division to set up control rooms and notify helpline numbers for the information of the general public
- Earlier, on the directions of the Governor, a team of officers from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department carried out a safety audit of the embankments of the rivers and nullahs
