Need to understand causes of Kashmir floods: Experts

Experts, at a two-day National Seminar held at Kashmir University, have said there was an immediate need to develop a comprehensive scientific understanding of the causes and consequences of the recent flooding in Jhelum basin.
The seminar titled ‘Retrospective and Prospective of 2014 Kashmir Floods for Building Flood Resilient Kashmir’ was held at university campus on 15-16 November and organised jointly by Department of Earth Sciences KU and Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR).
The experts discussed various aspects of the floods like the genesis and magnitude of extreme flood, key issues related to recent Kashmir floods and future planning for flood risk reduction in the Jhelum basin.
“The experts suggested phasing of the intervention priorities to reduce the risk of the people and property to floods,” said a KU spokesman. About 45 participants including National Disaster Management Authority member, Dr Muzaffar Ahmad: Central Water Commission chairman, A B Pandya; Wajahat Habibullah; Head of Disaster Management, ISRO Hyderabad, Dr G Srinivasa; Head of Water Resources Division, National Institute of Hydrology Roorkee, Dr Rakesh Kumar and Executive Director, Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation, Sushobha Barve attended the seminar.