Flood alert puts a dampener on Eid-ul-Adha preparations

After the consistent rain, the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control (IFC) sounded flood alert in Srinagar this morning which created panic among residents who were gearing up for Eid-ul-Adha.

As water level at Ram Munshibagh reached 18 ft on Wednesday morning, the officials sounded alert in Srinagar which created panic, forcing Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to reach the Zero Bridge to inspect the rising water levels.

“The water level at Ram Munshibagh has touched the flood declaration mark of 18 ft, as such the habitation residing along the embankments of the Jhelum/ nullahs and low-lying areas of central Kashmir (Srinagar) are advised to remain vigilant,” an official communication from the IFC Department read.

People were making preparations for the Eid-ul-Adha festival, which will be celebrated in Kashmir on Friday, but the flood alert panicked the people in the city, playing a spoilsport to the preparations. This is the sixth flood alert after the devastating last year September floods.

“This is an auspicious occasion for us, but now the threat of flood seems to be taking away all the joy. We are yet to recover from the wounds of the last year floods. It will take us decades to recover,” said Sadiq Ahmad, a Srinagar resident.

The water level started rising in rivers after consistent rainfall lashed parts of the Valley since Monday evening. On Tuesday, water started to rise across many small rivulets, particularly across south Kashmir followed by heavy rain.

Earlier today, the department had issued flood advisory only for south Kashmir after the Jhelum scaled above the 21-ft mark. The officials said the water level was likely to increase in the Jhelum for some time despite no rainfall.

Though there was an improvement in weather during mid-day hours and people started coming out of their houses, weatherman predicted that the weather was expected to remain dry till Sunday which gave a sigh of relief to people.