Govt sounds flood alert amid relentless rains
• More precipitation expected in next 24 hours: MeT Dept
Incessant rainfall has resulted in flood-like situation in parts of Kashmir valley with river Jhelum crossing the alarm level at Sangam Wednesday night.
With more rain in the offing, authorities have directed people residing along river embankments and low lying areas of south and central Kashmir to be cautious.According to Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, (Kashmir) Javed Jaffer, the gauge at Sangam crossed the flood alarm level of 18 feet at 9 pm.
“People residing along the river embankment/Nallah and low lying areas of south and central Kashmir are advised to remain vigilant. People residing along Vaishaw Nallah in Kulgam district have been advised to move to safer places,” reads the circular issued by the Chief Engineer, IFC Department.
Besides the staff deputed on flood duty is directed to report to their respective beats, it adds.
Many families in some villages of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district shifted to safer places while others were seen shifting their belongings to upper storeys of their houses. According to unconfirmed reports, some bridges have also been washed away by Vaishaw Nallah.
Meteorological Department has predicted more rain and thundershowers in the valley in next 24 hours. “Heavy rain and thundershower will occur in Jammu and Kashmir during next 24 hours,” a MeT official said.
He said the weather is likely to improve by Friday (June 26).
A weather department official said Srinagar received 33.2 mm rainfall since morning while Pahalgam received 28.0 mm rainfall.
Srinagar and other parts of the Valley received rainfall since morning which also resulted in significant dip in temperature, prompting people to bring out their warm clothes.
A number of roads were inundated in Srinagar affecting vehicular and pedestrian movement following relentless rainfall.
Several areas including marketplaces- Lal Chowk, Residency Road, Regal Chowk and Hari Singh High Street witnessed water-logging affecting vehicular movement. At some places, where there are no footpaths, pedestrians found it difficult to walk due to rain water. Some people preferred to stay indoors.
“It was raining hard and most of the roads were water-logged. I decided to take a one day leave from the office,” said Irfan Maqbool from Khanyar, who works as a marketing executive.
In Kokernag 11.2 mm rain was recorded, Qazigund received 56.2 mm rain while in Kupwara 16.2 mm rain was recorded.
The Met spokesperson said the city witnessed a drop of one degree in the minimum temperature.
Srinagar recorded maximum temperature of 16.8 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 16.2 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperature in Pahalgam was 11.7 degrees Celsius while minimum temperature settled at 10.4 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature of Kupwara was 16.8 degree Celsius while minimum temperature settled at 13.4 degree Celsius.
Kokernag recorded maximum of 17.0 degree Celsius while minimum temperature recorded was 13.2 degree Celsius.
