Floods in Valley after rivers cross danger mark, schools closed
ALERT Authorities have warned of fresh rain and set up a roundtheclock monitoring system in various parts of state
SRINAGAR : A flood alert has been sounded in south and central Kashmir, with water levels in the Jhelum rising after heavy rains over the last two days.
Authorities have warned of fresh rainfall and set up a roundthe-clock monitoring system in various parts of the state. Water level rose above the danger mark at Sangam in south Kashmir as well as Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar on Saturday morning.
Officials said the Jhelum rose above the critical 21-feet mark at Sangam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district owing to heavy rainfall. “Due to continuous rains over the past two days, the gauge at Sangam has crossed the flood declaration of 21 feet and was flowing at 21.33 feet at 6 pm,” an official at the irrigation and flood control department said.
The water level of the Jhelum at Ram Munshi Bagh stood at 13.34 feet at 6 pm, just 4.5 feet below the flood-declaration point.
He said people living along the river bank have been advised to remain vigilant.
A high-level meeting was chaired in Srinagar to monitor the situation. Officials said people living in low-lying areas have been asked to be prepared for evacuation in an emergency. Schools across the Valley have been closed as a precautionary measure. A senior police officer said people needn’t panic as the situation was being watched. The downpour was particularly intense in Srinagar on Friday. A Met official said Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district received the highest rainfall at 63.4mm until 8.30am while neighbouring Qazigund received 58.6mm of rainfall. Srinagar had recorded just 12.6mm rainfall until 8.30am, but the intensity increased after that, he added.
Residents of the Valley have begun fearing a re-run of the 2014 floods. But Met officials have predicted an improvement in weather for two days, following which a fresh cycle will give rise to more rainfall in the Valley.