Srinagar areas inundated – Schools, colleges in 5 Kashmir districts to remain closed today
Barzulla, Bhagat, Natipora, Mehjoor Nagar areas affected Doodh Ganga, flood channels overflow
Residents of south Srinagar like Barzulla, Bhagat, Natipora, Mehjoor Nagar, Rawalpora on Wednesday evening spent sleepless night amidst rains as flood waters entered the mohallas triggering panic.
Reports of flood water entering the Bone and Joint Hospital triggered panic among the patients and attendants who were evacuated to other storeys in the building.
The low lying areas in Barzulla, Bhagat, Natipora, Mehjoor Nagar, Chanapora, Padashahi Bagh, Rawalpora were the worst hit as the houses were totally inundated.
Authorities disallowed movement of vehicles and pedestrians towards these south city areas after flood water breached the bund in Barzulla areas and inundated the localities.
“Even the road leading to Bone & Joint hospital in Barzulla was flooded with water making it almost impossible for outsiders to enter the hospital premises”, local informed Greater Kashmir over phone. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Shah oversaw the late evening operation by different departments to prevent flood waters enter the entire South City across Rambagh bridge.
“We are taking care of the situation and all necessary measures are being taken for safety of residents. We will hopefully manage the situation and there is no breach in the nallah as is the rumor,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents of these areas were seen evacuating those trapped inside low lying mohallas inundated.
The incessant rains which continued till late Wednesday evening worsened the flood scenario as most of the flood channels in the city were overflowing triggering panic.
They blamed the erosion of bund across the city for overflowing and breach.
“The most irresponsible department is Irrigation and Flood Control which failed to check the magnitude of the crisis in the wake of floods,” said Fida Hussain, a resident of Burzalla, near the Bund.
The bund constructed by erstwhile Maharaja in Dogra rule was established to save the Srinagar city from floods. “Over the years, there has been destruction of the bund right from Pampore to Bemina.
Heavy vehicles are plying over the bund now turned into road at Batwara, Mehjoor Nagar, Padshahi Bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Barzulla, Rawalpora areas. “Besides, the destruction of the bund, the illegal construction on the areas near the bund like Kursu Rajbagh, Padshahi Bagh, Mehjoor Nagar, have triggered breach in the bund in the wake of flood water,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a resident of Rajbagh.
Meanwhile, residents of Peer Bagh and Rawalpora areas told Greater Kashmir that the canal which passes through Narkara Wetland was cut by Irrigation and Flood Control department six months back and on Wednesday evening the staff of the department filled it with mud which can breach anytime endangering lives of people in City.
Schools, colleges in 5 Kashmir districts to remain closed today
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal Wednesday evening told Greater Kashmir that schools and colleges in districts of Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian would remain closed on Thursday in view of the looming flood threat due to incessant rains.
Schools and colleges in Srinagar shall remain closed on Thursday in view of the looming flood threat, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Shah said.
He said he was personally monitoring the situation that has arisen out of heavy rains on Wednesday.
