Water level ‘receding’ in Jhelum
Flashfloods submerge north Kashmir villages; Pulwama areas remain cut-off
With improvement in weather on Tuesday after a spell of incessant rains, water level in river Jhelum is receding gradually though it is flowing above alarm mark in Srinagar and South Kashmir.
On Sunday evening, incessant rains led to rise of water level in Jhelum above the alarm level, prompting the government to sound flood alert in the summer capital.
During night, the water level in the river touched 21.30 feet in Sangam and 19.1 feet in Ram Munshi Bagh—over 3.30 feet and 3.1 feet above alarm levels, respectively.
PANIC IN SRINAGAR AREAS
The rising water level created panic in several areas including Shivpora, Raj Bagh, Lasjan, Mehjoor Nagar, Gogji Bagh, which are situated on sides of Jhelum embankments. Chaos and confusion prevailed in these areas as many people shifted to safer places.
In Shivpora, Batwara and Kursoo Rajbagh, people in small groups patrolled Jhelum embankments during night hours.
Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Javid Jaffar said water level is gradually receding in Jhelum.
“Due to incessant rains there was sudden water rise in Jhelum, however with improvement in weather, water is gradually receding,” he told .
He said around 8 pm, the water level in Jhelum was recorded at 18.68 in Sangam and 18.75 in Ram Munshi Bagh— point 68 feet and 2.75 feet above alarm level.
At Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh gauge, 18 and 16 feet is Alarm, 21 and 18 Flood Declaration and 23 and 19 Danger level respectively.
Jaffar said there are reports of damage to several water channels and tributaries of Jhelum due to flashfloods triggered by incessant rains.
“However, there has been no breach in Jhelum embankments. People living close to Jhelum or low lying areas need not to panic. Our engineers are constantly monitoring the embankments and we are ready to meet any eventuality. If weather remains dry, the levels in Jhelum would get below alarming level in next 24 hours,” Jaffar said.
PULWAMA CUT OFF
Due to flashfloods, many areas of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district remained cut off for the second consecutive day Tuesday.
Flashfloods washed away all road diversions in streams in Gudoora, Rangmulla, Mughalpora, Chatrpora, Rohmu, Chandrigam and Batgund. This led to disruption of vehicular movement to Pulwama from Srinagar and Anantnag district.
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Neeraj Kumar said all diversions which were made following damage to bridges in floods last year have been washed away.
“We tried to reconstruct the diversions but the work was stopped due to high water levels in streams. We would start the work on Tuesday,” the DC said.
SEVERAL VILLAGES SUBMERGED IN NORTH KASHMIR
Flashfloods submerged many areas in Wagoora and Pattan tehsils, forcing inhabitants to shift to safer places. Flashfloods in Ningli nallah in Wagoora washed away several bridges and road diversions. Dozens of villages in Wagoora tehsil along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway have also been submerged.
The Shrakwara-Wagoora bridge on the main road has been washed away while as other bridges in Wagoora, Wagila, Monagam and Kalantra suffered extensive damage.
The diversions constructed near damaged bridges last year hinder flow of water in Ningli causing spill over of waters to adjoining villages.
Reports said over a dozen villages are submerged in Pattan area due to flashfloods. “Several people are trapped in their houses,” locals claimed.
Officials said over 17 villages in Pattan are submerged. These include Trikolbal, Hanjivera, Mandiyari, Kripalpora, Khor, Panaji, Malbushan, Agrikalan, Dangerpora, Tantraypora, Chanderhama, Habak, Hamray, Bonichakal, Ghat Gopalan.
People alleged that inordinate delay in permanent restoration of breaches of Ferozpora nallah in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district resulted in inundation of several areas including residential houses, orchards and paddy fields.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, visited affected areas of Wagoora, Pattan and Tangmarg on Tuesday.
He inspected Shrakwara damaged bridge and directed the concerned officers to restore it on war footing. The DC also took stock of the restoration of the damaged water supply schemes and asked the concerned for its immediate restoration.
CLOUDBURST WREAKS HAVOC IN KULGAM
At least two persons were injured in cloudburst in Chamgund village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district last evening. The cloudburst led to increase in water level in Vaishaw nallah flowing into Jhelum.
Incessant rains and hailstorm damaged mustard crops, orchards and agriculture fields in Hanjipora in Kulgam and Duchnipora belt of Bijbehara and Pahalgam.
HEAVY SNOWFALL IN KARGIL
Heavy snowfall disrupted normal life in Kargil.
Reports said snowfall and flashfloods have damaged residential houses, electric poles and wires, water supply schemes and irrigational canals.
Executive Councilor for PWD and Education LAHDC Kargil Ghulam Rasool Nagvi said a committee has been formed to assess damages due to heavy snowfall.
Executive Councilor for Rural Development LAHDC Kargil, Syed Abass Razvi visited Pashkum and inspected the areas affected by flashfloods.
Meanwhile, people of Pashkum held a sit in against defunct drainage system on Kargil-Leh road saying this rain water damaged their field and houses.
GOVT TO CONSULT EXPERTS
Minister of State for Irrigation and Flood Control Abdul Majid Padder said that the government is making serious efforts to tackle flood like situation in future.
“After Durbar Move, an expert committee would be constituted to address the issue. Both retired as well as in service senior engineers are being invited by the state government so that they could put forth their point of view in this regard and moot the proposals to avert floods in future,” Padder said.
