Fresh spell of rainfall from today, says MeT
With Kashmir set to receive fresh spell of rainfall from Friday, the State Government today said it was “prepared” to avert any resulting situation.
The Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall from Friday morning.
“Kashmir will receive spells of rainfall from tomorrow for next two days. We could get light to moderate rainfall on July 19 and 20 as well,” said Director Weather Department, Sonum Lotus.
Authorities in the State Government, which is facing criticism for doing little on flood management front in Kashmir particularly post September 2014 deluge, met here for 2nd consecutive day today to work out strategy to deal with the situation.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir chaired the meeting in connection with the predicted rainfall for next four days and preparations on the ground.
Sources said top officials from departments concerned Flood Control Department, police, and district administration heads participated in the meeting.
“The Departments concerned were given instruction to prepare in advance. The good thing is that this spell of rainfall has already got delayed by more than a day which means the level of water in River Jhelum will fall more,” said Chief Engineer Flood Control Department, JavedJaffar, who was part of the meeting.
Another official said a “contingency plan” has been worked out to deal with the situation.
“Every field agency will play its part,” said the official.
He said since these were the monsoon rains and not the rainfall resulting from Western Disturbance, the impact of rainfall would be “far less” in Kashmir in comparison to Jammu.
In Kashmir the southern districts like Islamabad (Anantnag) and Kulgam could receive the maximum rainfall.
Most of the sources of water in south Kashmir like Lidder (Pahalgam) and Vaishaw (Kulgam) are feeding sources for Jhelum River which has been swelling after every fresh spell of rain, threatening to breach embankments.
On Wednesday two senior cabinet ministers chaired a meeting to review the level of preparedness in case there was heavy rainfall in the Valley which is highly vulnerable to floods.
Sources said since no “proper focus” has gone into flood management plan for Kashmir post September 2014 deluge, it was resulting in flood like situation after every spell of rainfall.
“What kind of contingency plan can government workout when we have lost the water bodies to encroachment and nothing has been done so far to increase the water carrying capacity of Jhelum and its flood spill channel despite passing of more than 11 months after last year flood,” said a senior official.
